3625 GENERAL CUSTER'S PERSONAL MILITARY MAP OF WESTERN

Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 2,500.00 USD
Estimated at 5,000.00 - 10,000.00 USD
STATES USED IN HIS 1873 SURVEY OF NORTH PACIFIC RAIL ROAD ROUTE THROUGH HOSTILE SIOUX TERRITORY. Ink inscription: "TO GENERAL G. A. CUSTER USA IN REPLY TO HIS TELEGRAM DATED ELIZABETHTOWN, KY FEBY 15 1873", & "OFF. CH. OF ENGRS USA / WASHINGTON DC / FEBY 26 1873". Map is paper panels glued to cloth for easy use in field. It measures 49" x 45" in 16 sections, it is unfortunately missing 3 sections which included the Dakotas and most important area of operation of Custer. Map is further annotated with red & blue highlighted "BOUNDARIES AND NAMES OF THE MILITARY DEPARTMENTS". These are bordered and written in red: "ARIZONA", "TEXAS", "THE GULF" on large lower half and and partial inscriptions on the other three upper sections: "CALIFORNIA", and portions of what is missing "THE COL[ORADO]", "THE[DAKOTAS]". The two upper northeastern sections of map show "THE LAKES" and completing bottom section "THE SOUTH". Topography also highlighted in blue "MILITARY POSTS AND STATIONS, GARRISONED (AS FAR AS OUR INFORMATION EXTENDS)". The map has newer forts added as several had been established since publication in 1868. Written in red ink with blue underline: "FT BLISS", "CAMP CRITTENDEN", "CAMP CH'S", "CAMP VERDE", "CAMP APACHE", "CAMP TULERASA", "FT WINGATE" noting old "FT VINGATE", "ALCATRAZ" in San Francisco Bay. Custer had just been ordered to reunite the 7th cavalry stationed at various posts. Custer's command would take 3 steamboats up the Mississippi in Memphis to start their journey that this map would be used. By late September 1873 Custer and his command were stationed at Ft. Abraham Lincoln. This map appears to be shown framed on floor in his study in photo taken by Orlando Goff, November 1873. The missing pieces are not known if in possession of other family members or lost in the field. CONDITION: good to very good overall for the 13 of 16 pieces remaining present, staining and soiling as expected with field use. All inked & printed text is very good. PROVENANCE: Direct descent from descendants of James Calhoun Custer; Martin Lane Historic & Western Americana Lifetime Collection. (02-21442-5/JS). $5,000-10,000.