Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-07-30

mind the services Gen. Custer render.
ed the government in the campaigns
against the Sioux in 1875 and 1876.
in the last of which, the battle OF
the Little Big Horn, he met his death.
Accompanying the coat is a yellow
plumed cavalry helmet ard a buck
skin gauntlet, both worn during his
active service against the Indians
from 1866 to 1876, while lieutenant
colonel, 7th cavalry, U. S. A.
Coat He Was Married In.
There is also a ulue regulation army
officers coat, with two starred straps,
plush collar and cuffs, the coat which
he wore on the occasion of his mar.
riage to Miss Elizabeth Bacon, Feb
ruary 3, 1864.
A straight cavalry saber OF tremen.
dous size is also included in the COL
lection. 1t was a spoil of wal cap.
tured by Maj. Drew, who presented
1t to Gen. Custer, since he knew Of
no other mar able to WELD such a
large weapon. 1t has a Toledo blade
IN which Is engraved In Spanish, do
not draw me without cause, and do
not sheathe me without honor"
A Virginia state flag, a prize Of the
generals personal prowess, captured
by him in 1861, when a lieutenant, is
also on exhibition. 1t is supposed to
be the first standard captured by the
Army Of the Potomac.
One object of great historical sig.
niflcance, though of rather an unro
mantle nature, Is half OF a white towel
that figured c0hspicuously in the bat.
tie just preceding the surrender OF
Gen. Lee at ~Appomattox. 1t seems
that while Gen. Lee had gone to the
real of the Confederate lines to sc.
cure an interview with Gen. Grant,
leaving Gen. Longstreet I'm command,
Gen. Gordon's division became hard
pressed by the enemy and called on
Longstreet for assistance. Not being
able to furnish it at the time, Long
street sent his inspector general, Maj.
r. M. Simms, to suggest to Gordon
the sending of a flag Of truce to the
Federals requesting q suspension OF
hostilities, pending the interview be-
tween Lee and Grant.
Used Towel 40 Flag.
Following this suggestion, Gordon
at once dispatched Simms to the Fed
eral commander, Sheridan, with this
request. AS Maj. Simms galloped to.
ward the lines of the Federals he
searched his haversack for something
white to cover his advance, but found
only a towel. This he drew out ano
waved above his head as he approach.
ed the enemy. The Union soldiers
caught sight Of the white towel, he'd
their fire, and under his improvised
flag olmms was allowed to enter the
lines, where he vas met by Col. Whit
taker and taken to Gen. Custer, who
was in command of that part of the
field. Neither of these officers, how
ever, cared to declare a temporary
cessation of hostilities Just then, feel
ing that they had the advantage OF
the fight and held the southern army
at their mercy.
So Simms was obliged to return to
his own lines without accomplishing
his purpose. He left the truce towel
in the hands Of Col. Whitaker, who
tooA half Of 1t and gave the other
portion to Gen. Custer. 1t was only
shortly after the incident just men,
toned that Sheridan and Gordon met
and established a temporary truce
which held until the conference be-
tween Grant and Lee terminated the
war.
Historic Table.
Most important among this c0llec-
ton Of war relics is a little oval table
of wood, much battered ana SCARED,
on which Gen. Grant wrote the ler-
ter containing the terms of surrender
of Gen. Lee, at the home Of Wilmer
Mclean, near Appomatox Court
House, Va, Immediately after this
event the table was purchased by
Gen. Sheridan and given to Gen. Gus
ter as a present for his wife. Gen.
Sheridan's letter OF presentation,
dated April 10, 1866, the day follow
ing the surrender, which is included
In the collection, c~orroborates this
statement.
The collection also includes a pin
made from q piece Of conch shell;
once q button from the coat Of Gen.
Washington, presented by a relative
Of the general to Custer. Later Custer
had 1t mounted in gold for his wife,
who wore 1t for many years az q
brooch.