The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-10-18
AROUND THE
CAMPO 8,3X
FIRE 4GgzEAa
RELICS OF GENERAL CUSTER
interesting Collection Secured by Ma
tIonaI Museum From Widow Of
Noted indian Fighter.


An interesting collection has recent
Iy been installed in the hall Of history
IN the National museum, consisting OF
articles donated and lent by Mrs,
George A. Custer, widow of Brevet
Maj. Gen, George A. Custer, u. S, A,
General Custer is probably best re-
membered by his achievements in the
many Indian fights in which he par.
tlcipated. and by his record as an
Indian scout. The collection includes
a memento Of this phase Of his career
in the form of the white buckskin
coat in which he has been most often
pictured as plainsman and scout
This coat Is I'm excellent condition,
and looks as If the general had just
removed It and hung It up. Il has
deep collar and cuffs, and is heavily
fringed with slashed buckskin trim
ming. The pockets are made much as
In modern sporting coats, while but
tons are Of the regular army pattern
of the period. This coat calls TO mind
the services which General Custer
rendered to 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 and a buck.
skin gauntlet, both worn during his
active service against the Indians
from 1866 to 1876 while lieutenant
colonel Seventh cavalry, U. s. A.
There is also II blue regulation army
officers coat, with two starred straps,
plush collar and cuifs-the coat which
he wore on his marriage to Miss Eliz-
abeth Bacon, February 9. 1864. A
straight cavalry saber of tremendous
size is also included in the collection.
1t was a spoil of war captured by Ma
jor Drew, who presented it to General
Custer, since he knew of no other
man able to WELD such large feapon.
1t has a Toledo blade, on which Is en-
graved 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 display.
One object Of great historical sig
nifcance, though rather of an unro-
rantic nature, is half of white towel
which figured conspicuously in the
battle Just preceding the surrender of
General Lee at Appomattox It seems
that while General Lee had gone to
the rear of the Confederate lines to
secure an interview with General |
Grant, leaving General Longstreet in /.
command, General Gordons division |
became hard pressed by the enemy .
and called on Longstreet for assist |
ance. Not being able to furnish as
sistance at this time, Longstreet sent .
his inspector general, Major r. M.
Simms, to suggest to Gordon the
sending of a flag of truce to the fed
erals requesting a suspension Of hos
Lilities pending the interview between
Lee and Grant. Following this sug-
gestion, Gordon at once dispatched
Simms to the federal commander,
Sheridan, with this request. As Major
Simms galloped toward the lines Of
he federals he searched his haYer-
sack for something white to cover his
advance, but found only towel. This
le drew out and waved above his head
Is he approached the enemy. The
Union soldiers caught sight of the
white towel, held their fire, and un-
Ter this improvised flag Simms was
lllowed to enter the lines where he
vas met by Colonel Whitaker and
aiken to General Custer, who was in
Command of that part Of the field.
Neither of these officers, however,
ared to declare a temporary cessa
ion of hostilities just then, feeling
hat they had the advantage of the
ght and held the southern army at
heir mercy. So Simms was obliged
0 return to his own lines without ac-
his purpose. He left the
ruce towel in the hands of Colonel
who took half of it and
ave the other portion to General Gus
sr 1t was only shortly after the in.
ldent just mentioned that Sheridan
nd Gordon met and established
emporary truce which held until the
difference between Grant and Lee
erminated the war.
Most important among this collec.
on of war relics is a little oval table
wood, much battered and SCARED,
n which General Grant wrote the let.
,r containing the terms of surren- ,
er of General Lee, at the home Of
1ilmer Mclean.
The collection also includes a pin
ade from a piece of conch shell, :
ace a button from the coat of Gen b
al Washington, presented by rela. 5
We of the general to Custer. Later
lster had 1t mounted in gold for his 2
ife, who wore it for many years as 2
brooch.
I