CUSTER, George Armstrong.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

Autograph letter signed to his cousin Augusta Frary. A revealing Civil War letter from Custer, discussing army life at General McClellan's headquarters and yearning for more combat.Custer graduated from West Point in June 1861, at the outbreak of the Civil War. He was commissioned second lieutenant in the 2nd US Cavalry and participated in the First Battle of Bull Run in July. Despite ranking last in his class, he excelled in active service and in May 1862 was appointed aide-de-camp to General McClellan. This role took him to the heart of headquarters in McClellan's Army of the Potomac, where he wrote this letter.He opens by acknowledging receipt of her portrait: "I do not think you are flattered in the least by your likeness or else my memory serves me wrong. I am very thankful for it". In turn, "I will send in return with this letter two of myself and am certain that after comparing them with your remembrance of my appearance you will have a very incorrect idea of what I look like. One is taken with my friend Washington who I have mentioned before as being a rebel officer captured by our troops at 'Fair Oaks'" - this was James Barroll Washington, a West Point classmate of Custer, who served as aide-de-camp to Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston. He was captured in the Battle of Fair Oaks on 31 May and Custer, who was fighting against him, had a portrait taken of the two together in their respective uniforms. This photograph is now one of the best-known images of the Civi

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