The Colorado statesman., 1912-09-07

the many Indian
fights in which he participated. and
by his record as an Indian scout. The
collection includes memento of this
phase of his career, in the form OF the
white buckskin coat in which he has
been most often pictured as plains
man and scout. This coat is in excel
lent condition and locks as If the gen.
eral had Just removed 1t and hung 1t
up. 1t has deep collar and cuhs and
is heavily fringed with slashed buck
skin 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
eral Custer rendered to the govern
ment 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 yellow
plumed cavalry helmet and 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 a blue 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, Febru-,
ary 8, 1864. A straight cavalry saber
of tremendous size is also included in
the collection. 1t was a spoil of war
captured by Major Drew, who present
ed it to General Custer, since he knew
no other man able to WELD such
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 state flag, prize OF the
generals personal prowess, captured
| by him in 1861, when a lieutenant, is
also on display. 1t is supposed to be
the first standard captured by the
| Army OF the Potomac.
One object of great historical sig
nificance, though of rather an unro-
mantle nature, is half of q white towel
| which figured conspicuously in the bat
| tie just preceding the surrender OF
| General Lee at Appomattox. 1t seems
| that while General Lee had gone to
| the rear of the confederate lines to Sc
| cure an interview with General Grant.
| leaving General Longstreet in com
| mand, General Gordon's division be
came hard pressed by the enemy and
| called on Longstreet for assistance.
| Not being able to furnish assistance
| at that time Longstreet sent his in
| spector general, Maj. R. M. Simms, to
To nf a
| flag of truce to the federals. request
| Ing a suspension of hostilities pending
| the interview between Lee and Grant
Following this suggestion. Gordon at
once dispatched Simms to Federal
| Commander Sheridan with this re-
| quest
AS Major Simms galloped toward
| 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 and waved
above his head as he approached the
enemy The Union soldiers caught
sight of the white towel. held their
| fire, and under this improvised flag
Simms was allowed to enter the lines
where he was met by Colonel Whit
who was in command of that part of
| the field.
Neither of these officers. however.
cared to declare a temporary cessa.
ton of hostilities Just then. feeling
that they held the southern army at
their mercy. So Simms was obliged
to return to his own lines without ac-
complishing his purpose. He left the
truce towel in the hands OF Colonel
Whitaker, who took half of it and
gave the other portion to General Gus.
ter
Most important among this collec-
ton of war relics is little oval table
of wood. much battered and SCARED.
on which General Grant wrote the let
ter containing the terms of the sur.
render of General Lee at the home of
Wilmer Mclean. near Appomattox
Courthouse. Va.