The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1912-08-04
WIDOW
DONATES RELICS
INTERESTING COLLECTION IN.
STALLED IN HALL OF HISTORY
IN NATIONAL MUSEUM.
(By Winfield jones'


in the national museum, consisting
of articles donted and lent by Mrs.
George A. Custer, widow of Brevet
Mai. Gen. George 4. Custer. u. 5. A.
Gen. Custer is probably best re-
membered for his achievements IN
the many Indian fights in which he
participated, and by his record as an
Indian scout. The collection includes
a memento of this phase of his ca
reer. in the form of white buck
skin coat in which he has been most
often pictured as plainsman ana
scout. This coat is in excellent con-
dition. and looks as if the general
has Just removed it and hung it up.
1t has deep collar and cuffs, and
is heavily fringed with slashed buck
skin trimmings. 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
Gen. Custer rendered the govern
ment in the campaign against the
Sioux in 1875 and 1876, in the last
of which. the battle of Little Big
Horn, he met mis- death.
Accompanying the coat is 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, eth Cavalry, L. S. A.
There is also 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 8, 1864.
A straight cavalry saber of tre-
mendous size is also included in the
collection. 1t was a spoil of war
captured by Maj. Drew, who present
ed it to Gen. Custer since he knew
OF no other man able to WELD such
"A large weapon. 1t has a Toledo
blade on which is engraved in Span
ish: DO not draw me without cause,
and do not sheathe me without hon
Or
4 Virginia state flag, a prize of the
generals personal prowess, captur-
ed by him in 1861, when 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
nficance, though of rather an unro-
mantle nature, is half of white
towel that figured conspicuously in
the battle just preceding the surren-
der of Gen. Lee at AppomatoX. 1t
seems that while Gen. Lee had gone
to the rear of the Confederate lines
to secure an interview with Gen
Grant, leaving Gen. Longstreet in
command, Gan. GOrdon's division
became hard pressed by the enemy
and called on Longstreet for assist
ance. Not being able to furnish it at
the time, Longstreet sent his inspec-
tor general, Mai. r. NJ. Sims, to sug-
gest to Gordon the sending of a flag
of truce to the Federals requesting a
suspension of hostilities, pending the
interview between Lee and Grant.
Following this suggestion, Gordon
at once dispatched Simms to the
federal commander, Sheridan, with
this request. AS Maj. Simms gal
loped toward the lines of the fede-
rails he searched his haversack for
something 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 I'M
der this improvised flag Simms was
allowed to enter the lines, where he
was met by Col. Whitaker and taken
to Gen. Custer, who was in command
of that part of the field. Neither
of these officers, however, cared to
dclare a temporary cessation of hos
tilities just then, feeling that they
had the advantage of the fight and
held the southern army at their mer-
cy.