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The individual manuscripts in this collection were purchased from various dealers.
Open for public use.
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Permission to publish material from George A. and Elizabeth B. Custer Collection must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the Special Collections Board of Curators.
Custer, George Armstrong (1839-1876), was an American Army officer, whose death in battle against the Siox Indians created a legend and stirred bitter controversy. He was born at New Rumley, Ohio, on December 5, 1839. He was appointed in 1857 to the U.S. Military Academy, where his academic and disciplinary record was undistinguished, and was graduated in 1861.
As a cavalry lieutenant, Custer displayed courage, dash, and initiative in engagements early in the Civil War. In June, 1863 he was promoted to bridgadier general of volunteers, although he was only 23 years old. His subsequent combat record was a string of successful actions at Gettysburg, Cold Harbor, Yellow Tavern, Ceder Creek, and Five Forks. His daring, almost reckless style of personal leadership resulted in his promotion to major general, commanding a division of cavalry under Gen. Philip H. Sheridan.
After one of the campaigns he was convinced by a general court-martial on charges that included unauthorized absence from his command and mistreatment of caputred deserters. He was suspended from rank and pay for a year, but after 10 months he was restored to active duty for a winter campaign against the Indians. At dawn on November 27, 1868 Custer led the 7th Cavalry in the capture and burning of a large village of southern Cheyenne Indians on the Washita River in what is now western Oklahoma. Early in 1873 he was sent with his regiment to Dakota Territory on escort duty for the Northern Pacific Railroad survey. The next year he led an exploration into the Black Hills of Dakota to look for gold.
Custer was to have had a major command in a campaign against Sitting Bull and other hostile Sioux Indians in the Spring of 1876. Before it began, however, he became involved in an investigation of the sale of post traderships at Western military establishments. Testifying in Washington, he presented hearsay evidence that implicated relatives of President Ulysses S. Grant in the affair. Grant ordered his removal from command of the Dakota section of the Sioux expedition, but on the intercession of other military authorities he was allowed to take the field, commanding only the 7th Cavalry.
Starting from a base camp in the Yellowstone River on June 22, 1876, Custer was directed to take his regiment up Rosebud Creek in southeastern Montana and cross to the valley of the Little Bighorn River, where the hostile Indians were believed to be encamped. It was hoped that Custer's force could coordinate its attack with the movement of another command marching down the Little Bighorn from the north.
Early on June 25 a large Indian village was found on the Little Bighorn. Fearing discovery by the Indians, Custer decided to attack the camp at once. Unkown to him, the village contained at least 1,500 fighters men. Custer's regiment mustered about 650.
Earlier he had divided his regiment into four detachments with separate missions. With his immediate command of five companies Custer attempted to strike the Indian village from its eastern flank. Unable to penetrate the Indian camp with his mounted troops, Custer was driven into broken ground unsuited for cavalry action. Forced to fight on foot, his force of 225 officers and men was overwhelmed and wiped out to the last man in little more than five hour's fighting. The remainder of the 7th Cavalry was driven into a defesive position on the bluffs above the river, where it was relieved by another column on June 27th.
The controversy over this battle, in which some critics have accused
him of recklessness, has made "Custer's Last Stand" famous. The battlefield is
now a national monument.
Custer, Elizabeth Bacon (1843-1933), was the wife of Brevet Maj. Gen.
George A. Custer. She was born in Monroe, Michigan, the daughter of a well
known judge and very well educated. She formally met her husband in Monroe
while he was on leave in November 1862 and they were married on February 9,
1864. She followed her husband when and wherever possible during his military
career. She spent her entire life, following his death, supporting his fame and
defending his honor against those who attempted to dishonor his memory as the
hero of the Battle of Little Bighorn. She authored
The
This collection is closely related to the W.M. Camp, E.A. Brinistool, Charles Kuhlman, Elizabeth Custer (miccrofilm), and other small collections also preserved in the Lee Library. The collection provides information on George A. Custer's attitudes and activities and has his signature on many letters. Copies of the correspondence have been filed with the Custer Battlefield Monument Museum.
Additional Custer manuscripts are available in the Custer Archives at West Point and at the Custer Battlefield Monument Museum in Montana.
The Elizabeth B. Custer segment of the collection includes correspondence and other material written during the period 1876-1927. The letters written by Elizabeth B. Custer are in longhand and are signed by her. They are addressed primarily to persons interested in George A. Custer, autograph seekers and the author A.B. Ostrander. Also inlcuded is social correspondence with her friends, and typed copies of letters to her from General W.T. Sherman, Colonel Nelson Miles and others interested in her husband.
This material provides insight into Elizabeth B. Custer's activities in supporting her husband's fame as a hero and defending him against his critics. She corresponded with many persons and faithfully answered all letters sent her. Her goal in life was to perpetuate his memory and insure that all knew of his fame and heroism. See the related material in the Elizabeth B. Custer Collection at the Custer Battlefield Monument in Montana. The Harold B. Lee Library has a microfilm copy of index of that collection.
Patent issued to Custer to toe calking for horseshoes; he transferred rights of pantent to Irving B. Boyd and Erasmus J. Boyd allowing them to take over the Custer Calk Manufacturing Co. in Monroe, Michigan.
Letters to friend, "John" Chamberlain and to his step-sister, Mrs. David Reed describing his activities as a cadet and his opinions on politics.
Letters concerning recommendations for several of his soldiers to be promoted in rank. Also a pass signed by Custer authorizing Lt. Charles M. Walker to pass to and from camp.
Includes correspondence,
Pertaining to General Custer's death, her autobiographical sketch and defense of General Custer's honor and his past performances.
Pertaining to the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Little Big Horn, the authenticity of relics thought to belong to Custer, requests for Custer's signature, and social appointments and commitments.
One article,