Custer, George Armstrong (1839-1876) to my dear friend
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00385 Author/Creator: Custer, George Armstrong (1839-1876) Place Written: Texas Type: Autograph letter signed Date: circa 1869 Pagination: 8 p. ; 25 x 20 cm. Order a Copy
Writes a long letter to a friend, in which he sends a report made by General Philip Sheridan (not included) that was not meant for publication and discusses hardships and Indian fighting. Of the hardships encountered, comments that "some people might tern them appalling, but I enjoyed it all. Tells of near starvation because of a lack of buffalo and game, eating one of their starved horses, the group's jolly demeanor. Mentions that he will send some Indian curiosities and elk antlers he found in the Wichita Mountains. Describes his plans to travel to Camp Supply and attack Indians at "the upper tributaries of Red River." Expects difficulty in surprising them. Explains his plans to get leave in the summer and urges his friend to visit, praising the abundant game and his skilled hunting dogs. Writes that he has a squaw who killed a man and shot her husband for Billie, commenting that "I do not know of any curiosity that would interest him more than a good looking young squaw." A note at the end reiterates that the report is not to be published and indicates that some of the material relates to castration and the killing of "The scout Morrison," whose pictures were recently published in Harper's Weekly. Signed vertically on p.8 and p.4. Written on telegram stationery (with "Telegram" crossed-out) from "Head Quarters Department of the Missouri," forty miles south of Fort Cobb and twenty-five miles from the Texas border
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