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Lot 44
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General Custer's bold signature on postal cover to his wife, from Appomattox to the 7th Regiment of Cavalry
General Custer's bold signature on postal cover to his wife, from Appomattox to the 7th Regiment of Cavalry
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Description:

Custer George

Envelope addressed and autographed and signed in the hand of General Custer. Addressed to "Mrs. Genl Custer, Ft Riley, K" (Fort Riley, Kansas) with notes in another hand along the lower left corner of "Politeness of Maj Genl Gibbs, USA". 5.5" x 3". Lightly toned with handling marks and light creasing, opened along rear flap.

Custer and Gibbs's paths crossed numerous times, with their divisions coming into contact with one another including during the earlier Appomattox campaign. In fact Gibbs was present at the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia on April 9, 1865, where General Custer's men lead their infamous attack only the preceding day.

By the conclusion of the Civil War in 1865, Fort Riley again assuming an importance in providing protection to railroad lines being built across Kansas. Evidence of this occurred in the summer and fall of 1866 when the 7th Cavalry Regiment which this time included both Major General Gibbs and General Custer) was mustered-in at Riley Brevet Major General George A. Custer arrived in December to take charge of the new regiment.

The following spring, Custer and the 7th Cavalry left Fort Riley to participate in a campaign on the high plains of western Kansas and eastern Colorado. Although Libbie Custer traveled with her husband whenever possible, on this occasion she had stayed behind and remained at Fort Riley for this relatively short period. In many ways, theirs was the love story of the 19th century.

Elizabeth “Libbie” Custer experienced the typical hardships of frontier life: a prairie fire, earthquake and cholera. But none was as bad as the separations from her husband, George Armstrong Custer. Custer missed Libbie dearly when they were separated. The two would write frequently whenever separated during his military career. This particular letter however was addressed to Libbie during the period while she remained at Fort Riley, with the hand delivered letter having passed through the hands of General Gibbs of the 7th Cavalry (as per the reference of "Politeness of Maj Genl Gibbs"). Of utmost intrigue however is that it was during this short period of separation, when the campaign closed in July 1867, that General Custer went AWOL to Fort Riley to be with his wife resulting in his court martial.One's mind wanders considering perhaps the missing letter written by General Custer to Libbie may very well be shortly in advance of his preparation to see her!

Custer's court martial resulted in his suspension from rank and command without pay for a year, but Sheridan reinstated him after 10 months to lead a bloody campaign against the Cheyenne. We all know how this ended only 8 years later when a number of tribes missed a federal deadline to move to reservations. The U.S. Army, including Custer and his 7th Calvary, was dispatched to confront them. Custer was regrettably unaware of the number of Indians fighting under the command of Sitting Bull (c.1831-90) at Little Bighorn, and his forces were outnumbered and quickly overwhelmed when some 200 men in his battalion were attacked by as many as 3,000 Native Americans; within an hour, Custer and all of his soldiers were dead.

But for one moment, this wonderful piece of history brings us back to his General Custer's most productive and happy years. Those during his rapid rise in military rank, his daring cavalry charges, bold leadership style and tactical brilliance, but also as a husband whose constant devotion and love for his wife remained a pervasive force throughout his life. A fantastic emotional piece, beautifully signed by General Custer and addressed to his wife.

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