Details
CUSTER, GEORGE ARMSTRONG, General. Autograph letter boldly signed ("G.A. Custer Brig Genl") to Lieutenant William Kirk, "Headquarters 2nd Brig[ade]," 28 February 1864. 2¼ pages, 8vo, in dark pencil on lined notepaper, attractively double-matted and double-glazed (in UV-40 plexiglas) in a frame hinged to a larger frame incorporating an enlargement of a famous portrait photograph of Custer in full uniform (by Matthew Brady, May 1865, Katz, Custer in Photographs, K-75) and an engraved descriptive plaque.
A RARE FIELD LETTER FROM CUSTER, ON THE DAY HE LAUNCHED HIS ALBEMARLE COUNTY RAID
A rare field letter, giving curt orders for supplies to equip the 1500-man raiding party (the 2nd Michigan Cavalry): "You will report to Lieut[enant John W.] Spangler A[ssistant] Q[uarter] M[aster] Cavalry Corp at the Headquarters of Maj[or] Gen[era]l [Alfred] Pleasonton and request him to furnish you with two days forage for fifteen hundred horses (1500). Also procure from the Chief Commissary of the Cavalry Corps, three days rations for fifteen hundred men. Lieut[enant] Spangler will furnish you transportation for the supplies with which you will report to Maj[or] Gen[era]l [John] Sedgwick command[in]g 6th Corp where you will wait further orders. It is necessary that you arrive at Madison Court House by Tuesday evening next. You had better request Gen[era]l Pleasonton to furnish you with a small escort..."
Custer (1839-1876) led a strong diversionary raid to Charlottesville in Albemarle County, Virginia in support of the very ambitious Kilpatrick-Dahlgren raid on Richmond (an attempt to liberate Union prisoners held in Libby prison). While the Kilpatrick-Dahlgren raid was a failure (300 men were captured), Custer's bold two-day foray was success: he and his men covered almost 100 miles in winter conditions, burned a key bridge and depot, evaded a rebel force under Fitzhugh Lee and skirmished at Standardsville, Charlottesville and at Burton's Ford. They returned with 50 prisoners, 500 horses and over 100 freed slaves without suffering any losses.
A RARE FIELD LETTER FROM CUSTER, ON THE DAY HE LAUNCHED HIS ALBEMARLE COUNTY RAID
A rare field letter, giving curt orders for supplies to equip the 1500-man raiding party (the 2nd Michigan Cavalry): "You will report to Lieut[enant John W.] Spangler A[ssistant] Q[uarter] M[aster] Cavalry Corp at the Headquarters of Maj[or] Gen[era]l [Alfred] Pleasonton and request him to furnish you with two days forage for fifteen hundred horses (1500). Also procure from the Chief Commissary of the Cavalry Corps, three days rations for fifteen hundred men. Lieut[enant] Spangler will furnish you transportation for the supplies with which you will report to Maj[or] Gen[era]l [John] Sedgwick command[in]g 6th Corp where you will wait further orders. It is necessary that you arrive at Madison Court House by Tuesday evening next. You had better request Gen[era]l Pleasonton to furnish you with a small escort..."
Custer (1839-1876) led a strong diversionary raid to Charlottesville in Albemarle County, Virginia in support of the very ambitious Kilpatrick-Dahlgren raid on Richmond (an attempt to liberate Union prisoners held in Libby prison). While the Kilpatrick-Dahlgren raid was a failure (300 men were captured), Custer's bold two-day foray was success: he and his men covered almost 100 miles in winter conditions, burned a key bridge and depot, evaded a rebel force under Fitzhugh Lee and skirmished at Standardsville, Charlottesville and at Burton's Ford. They returned with 50 prisoners, 500 horses and over 100 freed slaves without suffering any losses.