The Washington herald., 1912-07-23
CUSTER CUR|Os
ON EXHIBITION
Widow of Indian Fighter Loans
Collection to National
Museum.
GARMENT sHowl

The hall of history in the National Mu-
scum has recently received an Interest,"
ing collection. consisting Of articles do
mated and lent by Mrs. George A. Gus
ter, widow of Brevet Mai. Gen. George
A. Custer, U. S. A.
Gen Custer is Immortality remembered
by his achievements in the many Indian
fights in which he participated, ana py
his record as an Indian scout The COL
lection 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 a plainsman and scout.
This coat is in excellent condition ana
looks as II the general had Just re-
moved it and hung 1t up. 1t has deep
collar and cuffs and is heavily fringed
with slashed buckskin trimming. The
pockets are made much as in modern
sporting coats, while the buttons are of
the regular army pattern Of the period.
This coat calls to mind the services
which Gen Custer rendered TO the gov
ernment in the campaigns against the
Sioux in 1879 and 1876, in the last of
which, the battle of the Little Big Horn.
he met his death.
Accompanying the coat Is yellow
plumed cavalry helmet and a buckskin
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 a blue regulation army
officers coat, with two starred straps.
plush collar and cuffs-the coat which he
wore on the occasion of his marriage to
Miss Elizabeth Bacon, February 3, 1864
A straight cavalry saber of tremendous
size is also included in the collection.
II was a spoil of war captured by Mai.
Drew. who presented IL to Gen. Custer,
since ne knew no other man able to
WELD such a large weapon. 1t has a
Toledo blade. on which is engraved in
Spanish, DO not draw without cause
and do not sheath me without honor"
Virginia Flag on Display.
A Virginia State flag. a prize of the
generals personal prowess. captured by
him in 1861, when a lieutenant, is also
on display. II is supposed 10 be the first
standard captured by the Army Of the
Potomac.
One object OF great historical signif
Cance, though of rather an unromanuc
nature, is half OF a white towe; which
figured consp!cuously in the baGrLs just
preceding the surrender of Ger. Lee at
AppomattoX- II seems that while Gen.
Lee had gone to the rear of the Con-
with Gen. Grant. leaving Gen. Longsrreet
in command. Gen. Gordon's division be-
came hard pressed by the enemy and
called on Longstrvet for assistance. No:
being able TO furnish assistance at that
time Lo"gstreet sent his inspector gen.
eTal. Maj. r. NJ. Simms, - sugges. to
Gordon the sending of a flag C truce to
the Federals, requesting 4 suspension
of hostilities pending the interview be-
ND T.fF au~fY, =
suggestion Gordon at once dispatched
Simms TO Federal Commander Sheri-
dan with this request
As Maj Simms galloped toward :he
lines OF the FederdIs he searched lis
haversack for something white u cover
his advance, but found only a towel
This he drew out and wavei above his
head as he approached the encrny. The
Union soldiers caught sight of tie white
towel, held their fire, and under this
improvised flag. Simms was allowed To
enter the lines, where he was met by |
Col. Whitaker and taken to GeE Custer
who was in command of that part # the |
field. |
Strange Memorial. |
Neither of these officers, however. cared
to declare a temporary cessation OK hos-
ti!it!es just then. feeling that they had |
N'AN VA lit llS4ll ana nelQ the |
Southern army at their mercy So Si-nms
vas obliged to return to his own lines
without accomplishing his purpose. Hc |
left the truce towel in the hands of |
Col. Whitaker. who took half Of il and
gave the other portion to Gen Jus,sr
II was only shortly after the incIden. |
lLst mentioned that Sheridan and Car
don met and established a tenn nay
truce, which held until the conf .-el - |
between Grant and Lee terminated the
war.
most important among this collection |
D. war relics is a little oval table of |
ood. much battered and SCARED. on ,
which Gen. Grant wrote the letter con-
tanning the terms of the surrender of !
zen. Lee at the home OF Wilmer Nc
Lean. near Appomattox Court House
va. Immediately after this event the
.aoie was purchased by Gen. Sheridan
ana given to Gen. Custer as a present
'of mis- wife. Gen. Sheridan's letter of
presentation. dated April 10, 1866, the dav
IoLowlng the surrender, which Is in.
f!uded in the collection, corroborates
his statement.
Inc collection also includes a Din made
rom piece OF conch shell, once a but
on from the coat OF Gen. Washington
presented by relative of the renerai
So -