|
Sale 66
Lot 218
Custer, George A (1839-76). Flamboyant U.S. Army officer and cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars; his accomplishments were overshadowed by his disastrous defeat and massacre at the Battle of the Little Bighorn on June 25, 1976. Autograph letter signed ("G.A. Custer"), 8 pages, 8 x 5 in., Headquarters Military Division of the Missouri, Chicago, Illinois, October 22, 1874. Fine. Written the same year Custer led his major expedition into the Black Hills to investigate rumors of gold deposits, to Colonel William C. Church.
The recipient, William Conant Church (1836-1917) was a well-known journalist. Church, along with George Wood Wingate, established the National Rifle Association in 1871 and replaced General Ambrose Burnside as President in 1872. With his brother he had established the Army and Navy Journal. At the time this letter was written to him by Custer, he had covered the famous rifle match at Creedmore between the Irish military team and a U.S. Army team which eventually won. Custer was so imbued with the idea of rifle competition he decided to set up some matches in the West. This letter was unpublished until it first appeared on the market a short time ago. Fine condition; light toning and and tiny pinholes along margins
"My Dear Col I have had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of Major Leech & some of the other members of the Irish Team who have been paying a brief visit to the West. Major [Arthur Blennerhassett] Leech was kind enough to present to me the Rigby rifle used by him in the International Match at Creedmore. I am deeply interested in growing attention being paid to rifle practice in this country and have been practicing and intend to continue my practice with a view to attaining greater perfection in the use of the rifle at long range. I have clipped the score of Mr.Rigby from the Army & Navy Journal made in the recent match for the Beswick Cup and have strong hopes of making a better one before the holidays overtake us. I am glad to see an earnest movement begun assuring service of the prominent men in the West particularly in Chicago looking to the formation of an organization here similar to that at Creedmore. It is the intention to establish a range in or near Chicago and if the proposed plans reach maturity I think it will not be long until the riflemen of the west reexercise a challenge from those of the west. And I am sure such a contest would not only increase the deep interests already felt in this important matter but would go far toward encouraging the establishment of ranges throughout the country. Do not be surprised if your correspondent appears as a contestant. Such is my personal inclination and I will only be prevented by official engagements. I expect to find at Monroe, Mich a long range Remington rifle with which I will continue my practice as soon as I return to the Plains which will be in November, early in the month, say before the 15th. I have a target erected convenient to my quarters at Fort Lincoln and a range of great convenience. I wish you would mail to me at Monroe, Michigan Wed or Thurs an issue of the rules &c governing Creedmore & the matches which took place there. Also give me the dimensions of targets &c with the scores made in International & Beswick matches. If sent to Monroe, Mich by this 5th of Nov I will get them. I have also to request & have so promised the gentlemen that you place in the hands of Major Leech and Mr.Rigby each a copy of Life on the Plains inscribed on the fly leaf with my compliments. Do this to my account I greatly oblige; I believe I can get up a team or a portion of a team in the west, say on the frontier that would not hesitate to compete with the same number of those who belonged as do balance of the successful team at Creedmore. Truly yours G.A.Custer."
Estimated Value $15,000 - 25,000
|
| |
| Realized $15,000 |
|
