4324 BATTLE OF LITTLE BIG HORN SURVIVOR THOMAS

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This item SOLD at 2023 May 15 @ 15:16UTC-4 : AST/EDT
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 10,000.00 USD
Estimated at 20,000.00 - 40,000.00 USD

MCDOUGALL SWORDS & ARCHIVE. Captain Thomas Mower McDougall, Custer's 7th Cavalry was bringing up pack train in rear of battle on that eventful day in June 1876 at Little Big Horn. McDougall is among the most famous of survivors of Battle of Little Big Horn. Much has been written about the battle and him. Thomas went on to complete a long military career retiring in 1904. He had a wall of his Indian War memorabilia including the officer’s saber and Indian decorated sheath. That wall is shown in original photograph with an aged McDougall (accompanying this lot).
Thomas Mower McDougall (1845-1909) had a long family history of military service. Thomas entered service in Civil War at 17 years old. When he turned 18 in 1864, he was commissioned Lieutenant in the 10th US Louisiana Volunteers of African Descent, later the 48th US Colored Infantry. He stayed in service having many posts in the West. In 1870 his unit was sent to South Carolina to deal with the Ku Klux Klan, he met his wife to be and was married in Charleston in 1872. He was soon to return to Fort Abraham Lincoln, home to the 7th US Cavalry where he was stationed till well after Little Big Horn. This archive is pictured in Glenn Swanson’s collection book: “G.A. Custer his Life and Times” on pages 108-109 & 260. Rarely do original artifacts with good provenance related to Custer’s 7th Cavalry come to market and this is wonderful archive cherished by Glen Mattox. 1) Model 1872 cavalry officer saber. He appears to be wearing it in “Barry” cabinet card also in this lot. The saber has deeply etched 33" blade with patriotic motifs highlighted in gold, distinctive floral decorated branches to hilt, shark skin grip with twisted brass wire wrap. Steel scabbard is brass mounted, each mount is florally engraved. CONDITION: Saber is very good overall, showing honest use, shark skin has turned mostly white, brass has mixed mustard patina, blade etch crisp and discernible with traces of gold wash, scabbard body smooth iron patina with pitting near drag.
2) 1860 Cavalry saber, 1864 dated Mansfield & Lamb, 35" blade. This is a standard Civil War enlisted cavalry saber. Note that General Custer is only photographed in Civil War with standard enlisted cavalry saber, and his was 1864 dated Roby. CONDITION: very good condition overall, complete grip, gray/bright blade with good maker's mark, smooth iron patina scabbard.
3) Native American fringed and beaded sheath. Sheath is shown in the “memorial wall” photograph with McDougal. 41" overall with 10" rawhide fringe, beaded decoration is sinew sewn with red, green, gold beads in "holly & berry" design. CONDITION: very good overall, bottom third of the fringe is dry, not supple like balance of sheath.
4) M1872 gold washed helmet chinstrap and crossed saber button attachments. He is wearing his helmet in original circa 1880 Barry photo accompanying this archive
5) McDougall’s “Russian knot” 7th Cavalry epaulet with captain’s insignia. He is shown wearing in portrait on his “memorial wall” and in original Barry photo accompanying this archive.
6) Barry cabinet card circa 1880 showing a gallantly posed McDougall wearing 1872 cavalry helmet with Russian knot epaulets, his 1872 cavalry officer’s saber all part of this archive. 6" x 4" photo was archivally framed in 1991, 10x13" frame. CONDITION: very good overall, photo not removed from mounting but only light cosmetic scratches seen in emulsion.
7) 9.25x7.25" Highly detailed photograph showing McDougall circa 1900 with his “memorial wall” of artifacts including portraits of famous native Americans, cavalry officer’s saber, portrait of him at Indian fighting prime, and many souvenirs including the beaded sheath which is part of this lot. Inscribed on verso “From Uncle Tom 1904”, CONDITION: very good overall, minor chipping on edges. 8) 2.5x5.5" Barry photograph of McDougall in dress uniform in side view, wearing Russian knot epaulets, aiguillettes, saber belt, and gauntlets. Mounted on 5x8.5" card with inscription on verso “For my dear nephew Howard Hastings Cummings from Uncle Tom, December 25, 1905”. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: file of provenance and research from Glenn Swanson. CONDITION: very good overall. PROVENANCE: From the Lifelong Collection of Glen E. Mattox. (02-18739/JS). $20,000-40,000.