7054

George A. Custer Autograph Letter Signed

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:6,000.00 - 8,000.00 USD
George A. Custer Autograph Letter Signed

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Auction Date:2017 Oct 26 @ 18:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:236 Commercial St., Suite 100, Boston, Massachusetts, 02109, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
ALS signed “Armstrong,” four pages on two adjoining sheets, 8 x 10, April 6, 1859. Written from West Point, New York, a letter to his friend Minnie St. John, in full: “I received and read your welcome letter with great pleasure, and as you accuse me of writing short letters I concluded to commence one on as large a sheet of paper as I could find in my port-folio, but whether I shall fill it remains to be seen. Although I (as usual) am enjoying the best of health, I have been very down hearted for a few days and not only myself but every Cadet in the corps, are my companions in distress, the cause of it is this. I do not remember whether I told you or not last fall that the Secretary of War had changed the course here from five to four years early last fall, we were all very much pleased with that change but day before yesterday the Secretary of War transmitted the order here to change the course back again to five years notwithstanding the academic board were strongly in favor of the four years course, several cadets are going to resign in consequence of this change—if the course had not been changed I would have been half through when I went on furlough, we are still hoping that the War Department will be induced to change the course again, as the Professors are going to enter a protest against it—I noticed in the papers that there was a young man of the name of Baker appointed from the Monroe District instead of Norman Hall.—The boats have commenced running on the Hudson and everything looks lively and pleasant, causing me to long for the time to come which will find me in the City of Flowers. I wish that in your answer you would tell me where I can find Henry when I go to Buffalo. I intend to stop a few days at Rochester as I have some relatives living there who I wish to see but have never seen, although I have corresponded with them for some time.—I am not certain but I do not think that any young lady in Monroe has received a letter of ten pages from me, I will not be positive about it. 

In what part of the city is the Union School Building and how many teachers and pupils are there. Is William Strong as attentive as ever to Lottie or has she transferred her smiles to some more favored one. Do you still have singings or singing–schools at the M.E. Church. I hope you do—Our examination will commence upon the first day of June, my time is now employed in studying Differential & Integral Calculus, French, Rhetoric, Drawing & Painting, together with Riding at Cavalry drills, Fencing, and Infantry and Artillery drills, we drill every evening with cannon that will carry balls three miles and a half. We will commence with the flying artillery in a few days—My class (and I with the rest) have all commenced getting our new uniforms for furlough and it looks as if we would get home at last although the nearer the time approaches the more anxious I am for it to come. Have you ever seen our uniforms? Does Lottie know that we correspond with each other? I know that she thinks that Henry and I have been corresponding all [the] time. Is E. Boyd as strict with the young ladies as he used to be, if he is I hope that Henry and I can find some means to vex him next summer. Do you remember those handbills that Henry & I posted on the Seminary one night. I do not suppose he had any idea of the authors of it. I am afraid that I am making my letter too long you will not find any interest in it. You certainly cannot call it short now. I will expect a ‘really long’ letter in answer to this, which will contain all the news of the young folks, enough to keep me in a ‘brown study’ a week, but as you left it to me whether I should write a long letter or not, I will do the same with you, trusting to your generosity to send me a long one. Hoping to hear from you soon.” Includes a clothbound presentation folder from Bauman Rare Books. In fine condition. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope, addressed in Custer's own hand.

More prankster than scholar, Custer famously graduated last in his class of 34 cadets at West Point Academy in 1861. Having entered the US Military Academy in June 1857, Custer in four years amassed a total of 726 demerits, albeit for seemingly trivial offences such as being late to supper or for throwing snowballs. The advent of war and subsequent demand for trained officers forced academy officials to graduate both the classes of 1861 and 1862 within a month of each other. His final year of study compressed into six weeks, Custer, by the skin of his teeth, graduated on June 24. On July 18, Custer left West Point and three days later, as a second lieutenant in the 2nd US Cavalry Regiment, participated in the First Battle of Bull Run. Some sixteen years later, Custer’s gathered remains from Little Bighorn were interred with full military honors at West Point Cemetery. Minnie St. John was a lifelong resident of Custer’s adopted hometown of Monroe, Michigan.