Custer's Last Flag: Culbertson Guidon from Battle of Little Bighorn

**Richard** · 12-10-2010, 09:54

The guidon goes on the auction block tomorrow at Sotheby's in NYC. The information provided on its history - its loss and recovery - is interesting.

http://www.sothebys.com/minisite/pdf...pdf/N08705.pdf

Richard

Sten · 12-10-2010, 10:40

Bids starting at 2,000,000 (usd).

mojaveman · 12-10-2010, 11:25

Authenticating relics like these is usually a long and interesting story in itself that involves hours and hours of painstaking research.

I once saw a buckskin coat that Custer supposedly wore at the Battle of the Little Bighorn for sale online.

ZonieDiver · 12-10-2010, 11:37

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfkmCNwHNbM

greenberetTFS · 12-10-2010, 12:02

I had the opportunity when I was up in that area quite a few years ago to take the tour and see the grave sites and heard the "true" story about his last stand........

It too is an interesting story............

After the tour I started heading for my car and met 2 indian guys who told me that on the anniversary they go and "piss on his grave"with quite a few other indian guys...........

Big Teddy

**Richard** · 12-10-2010, 12:16

Quote:

After the tour I started heading for my car and met 2 indian guys who told me that on the anniversary they go and "piss on his grave"with quite a few other indian guys...

I don't know, Teddy, that sounds like an old squaw's tale for impressing the gullible 'pale face' tourists to me.

Richard

mojaveman · 12-10-2010, 12:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenberetTFS

I had the opportunity when I was up in that area quite a few years ago to take the tour and see the grave sites and heard the "true" story about his last stand........

True Teddy,

A Cavalry Troop going up against a Regiment of Indians doesn't make for good odds. Custers 'last stand' was more of a reverse uphill rout. They fought bravely though.

Dusty · 12-10-2010, 12:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenberetTFS

I had the opportunity when I was up in that area quite a few years ago to take the tour and see the grave sites and heard the "true" story about his last stand........

It too is an interesting story............

After the tour I started heading for my car and met 2 indian guys who told me that on the anniversary they go and "piss on his grave"with quite a few other indian guys...........

Big Teddy

lol Bet that really gets on ol' Yellowhair's nerves. Idiots.

MVP · 12-10-2010, 13:33

I once saw a story saying that Custer's political enemies had set his command up for annihilation. I have been interested in him as a hunter for many years (avatar) and have a re-creation of his 50-70 Remington rolling block sporting rifle lost at the battle. He is holding the rifle in the photo.

Guess I need to get off my a.. and research this further.

MVP

ApacheIP · 12-10-2010, 19:23

There is plenty of material about the battle out there, but a recent book, Last Stand by Nathaniel Philbrick , might be the best of the bunch.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MVP

I once saw a story saying that Custer's political enemies had set his command up for annihilation. I have been interested in him as a hunter for many years (avatar) and have a re-creation of his 50-70 Remington rolling block sporting rifle lost at the battle. He is holding the rifle in the photo.

Guess I need to get off my a.. and research this further.

MVP

wet dog · 12-10-2010, 19:37

http://custer.over-blog.com/article-15476437.html

Not sure just how to interpret this.....

other sources say, had Reno returned with the 6 companies he commanded, the battle would have gone the other way.

I'm guessing it may have lasted longer, been more KIA, but in the end, a bunch a white guys in the middle of the prarie still get all the arrows.

219seminole · 12-10-2010, 20:03

I'll echo ApacheIP's comments on the Philbrick book. It is the best, most comprehensive BBH book I've come across.

BTW, the drawings by Red Horse (fig 18) in the Sotheby's catalog depict the troopers with sabers; actually, their sabers were packed away for this campaign and they went into the battle as mounted infantry.

This guidon is an interesting piece of history, certainly worth the big bucks. One of Libby Custer's books was titled Follow the Guidon.

wet dog · 12-10-2010, 20:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by 219seminole

I'll echo ApacheIP's comments on the Philbrick book. It is the best, most comprehensive BBH book I've come across.

BTW, the drawings by Red Horse (fig 18) in the Sotheby's catalog depict the troopers with sabers; actually, their sabers were packed away for this campaign and they went into the battle as mounted infantry.

This guidon is an interesting piece of history, certainly worth the big bucks. One of Libby Custer's books was titled Follow the Guidon.

Good to know, I'll add it to the list, thanks.

Wet Dog

ApacheIP · 12-10-2010, 20:30

Whether or not Reno had been able to move his troopers into the battle ultimately would not have mattered at all because his capacity to command and maneuver them was seriously hampered by the fact he spent a good bit of the battle rip roaring drunk.

Luckily Benteen had some clarity of thought during the siege.

Benteen disliked Custer greatly and procrastinated on his march to link with Custer. Odlly enough his lazy march to the sound of the guns (and Custer's orders) probably inadvertantly saved the rest of the command.

Wet Dog is right, if the balance of the column had reached Custer there would have been even more dead 7th troopers.

Edit: Thanks to Richard for bringing this up. That guidon is an iconic piece of American history.

**The Reaper** · 12-10-2010, 20:55

IMHO, Custer was an asshole, in addition to being an egomaniac and a publicity hound.

This was possibly a consequence of his Class of 1862 graduating a year early and him being directly promoted from Captain to Brigadier General two years later, at age 23. Custer did have a decent performance at Gettysburg, probably the pinnacle of his career. He made Major General before the end of the War, and then reverted to his permanent rank of Captain again. Ouch, bet that hurt.

Unfortunately, his leaders trusted him with men's lives, and he ultimately let them all down.

TR