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1874 GEORGE ARMSTRONG CUSTER 7th Cavalry Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:2,800.00 USD Estimated At:3,500.00 - 4,500.00 USD
1874 GEORGE ARMSTRONG CUSTER 7th Cavalry Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory
Autographs
1874 George Armstrong Custer 7th Cavalry Signed

Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory Document

Plus Signed by Augustus Henry Seward as Paymaster
GEORGE ARMSTRONG CUSTER (1839-1876). Historic Civil War Union Brigadier General at age 23, he fought in nearly every battle of the Army of the Potomac, including Gettysburg, later to be killed and his troops annihilated by Sioux and Cheyenne warriors led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse at Little Bighorn.
June 23, 1874-Dated, Partially-Printed Document Signed, “G A Custer” as "Lieut Colonel 7th Cavalry, Brevet Maj Gen’l, U.S.A., Commanding," at Fort Lincoln, Dakota Territory, on Vellum, Fine. This original “ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES” Document, measures 7.5” x 9.5 having full margins, as printed upon vellum, with manuscript pen and ink insertions. This official US Army Discharge being issued to William Gambrill, Sergeant in Company D, Seventeenth US Infantry, at Fort Lincoln, Dakota Territory after five years of service. It is Signed by George Armstrong Custer, as Commanding officer, and by Captain Charles E. Clarke, Company D, 17th Infantry. As a comment written upon this discharge, Captain Clarke notes at the bottom under the section header “CHARACTER” that Gambrill was, "Sober, honest, and faithful in the discharge of duty." Captain Charles E. Clarke was a Civil War veteran who served as Lt. Colonel of the 6th Michigan Infantry, brevetted for ”Gallant and Meritorious Service at the Siege of Port Hudson” and served at Fort Lincoln from 1873 until the Battle of the Little Big Horn.

This historic, original Fort Lincoln, Dakota Territory 7th Cavalry document is evenly worn and quite typical of folded discharge documents which were usually personally carried by the veteran. There is some light conservation to remove surface soiling. Some written text is dark and sharp, while other penned portions, including Custer’s signature are clearly readable yet faded in equal proportion to the other portions, in a lighter tan ink.

Also Signed by “A. H. SEWARD” as Paymaster USA - June 27, 1874” where he has distributed the final pay of $723.15. Augustus Henry Seward (1826-1876) was a U.S. Army officer. The Eldest Son of celebrated American statesman William H. Seward. Augustus Henry Seward graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and spent much of his life in the West, serving as an officer in the Paymaster Corps. During the attempted assassination of his father on April 14, 1865, by John Wilkes Booth's coconspirator Lewis Powell, he was among the members of the Seward family and household who were injured.

Fort Abraham Lincoln was established in 1872 first as an infantry post. In 1873 the 7th Cavalry was stationed at the enlarged post and Lt. Colonel (Brevet Major General) George A. Custer was the First Post Commander. He served at Ft. Lincoln from 1873 until the Battle of the Little Big Horn. While this authentic George Armstrong Custer "Lieut Colonel 7th Cavalry Brevet Maj Gen’l, U.S.A. Commanding" Signed Document is complete and ready for display, the condition is average for such a Vellum document. A remarkable, significant and historic piece of American history.