American Historical Ephemera & Photography

("GA Custer. / Brevet Major General USA"), approx. 5 x 2 in. (creased, with some light discoloration to right and left edges). -- ("MA. Reno. / Major 7 cavalry"), approx. 3 1/4 x 1 3/8 in. (extremely light discoloration to right and left edges). -- ("F.W. Benteen / Capt. 7th Cav."), approx. 2 1/2 x 1 in. (light discoloration to right and left edges, with some residue on bottom edge. -- Together, 3 clipped signatures, mounted and framed together to 12 x 13 in. with engraved presentation plates identifying each signer and the group as a whole. Provenance: Collection of Sergeant William Capes, Company M, 7th Cavalry Regiment (related by consignor when offered as Lot 764 in Cowan's American History Auction, June 2009).

Company M of the 7th Cavalry was part of the garrison at Fort Rice, Dakota, until they marched to Fort Lincoln on 5 May 1876 and joined the regiment to take part in the Sioux expedition. The regiment then left Fort Lincoln on 17 May, and Company M joined a scouting party led by Lieutenant Colonel George Custer up the Little Missouri for 22 miles, returning on 30 May. Company M did participate in the Little Big Horn River fight, suffering at least 12 men killed and several wounded during battle. Capes was on detached service from 15 June 1876 at Yellowstone Depot, Montana Territory, and he did not join the company until 30 July 1876. Thus, he did not participate at Little Big Horn.