Custer's Last Flag Could Fetch $5 Million

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Jun 25th 2010 at 12:45PM

It was 134 years ago today, June 25, that George Armstrong Custer and his 7th Cavalry fought and were overwhelmed by Lakota Sioux and Northern Cheyenne at Little Big Horn River. There were no survivors among those who fought under Custer's direct command and very few artifacts remained on the field. But one relic, a cavalry guidon, or swallow-tail flag, was hidden under the body of a dead trooper and discovered three days after the battle by Sergeant Ferdinand Culbertson, who was assigned to a burial party. Sothebys New York will sell this flag in October in a sale titled: October 2010: Custer's Last Flag: The Culbertson Guidon from The Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Since 1895, the delicate silk flag has been preserved at the Detroit Institute of Arts. It had been given by Culbertson to Charles and Rose Fowler of Detroit in approximately 1880 and was purchased from Rose Fowler Reidel by a public contribution in 1895. The flag carries an estimate of $2 to 5 million and proceeds from the auction will be used by the museum for future art purchases. The guidon will be unveiled to the public in September.

"This immortal battle flag represents the spirit, the bravery and the tragedy of one of the most dramatic moments in American history," commented David Redden, Vice Chairman of Sotheby's. "Battle-worn and bullet-torn, the Culbertson Guidon conjures the ferocity of that terrible battle."

"The Detroit Institute of Arts has been a steward of this flag for more than 115 years," said Graham W. J. Beal, DIA director. "In 1895, the flag fit in with the wide range of artifacts collected and displayed at that time. It remains, without doubt, an important historical treasure, but has long since ceased to meet current criteria as a work of art. It makes sense for us to sell it for the benefit of the collection." According to an article in the Detroit News, the museum has not revealed any information on what objects might be bought instead. The flag itself will hopefully find a home in another museum's collection.

For more information on rare flags, check out our recent piece on the Stars and Stripes as folk art.

Tags: Battle of Little Big Horn, custer, custers last flag, custers last stand, george custer

Filed under: Auctions

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Reader Comments (Page 2 of 5)

Pbnavar Jun 28th 2010 7:34AM

Thank you for recounting the facts. We can't change it. Remember it. Learn from it and move on. I didn't think there was someone to stand up and recount the horrors of this 'fine young soldier' and his regimen. You just might have hit nerve with what to do with this 'priceless' piece of history?

It's amazing how little we in 'school'. There might have been a paragraph or two in my American history text. I thought Custer was a fallen hero protecting the new settlers. No one ever mentioned genocide? It's concievable People thought he was providing protection. Seeing the famous picture ''Trail of tears" was like finding a puzzle piece.

Thanks for getting the message out. Now, I can get chewed up too! Just put the 'damn thing' in the'Smith' and forget about.

tonyrawl Jun 28th 2010 9:21AM

Ptango's post and 'Round Town Girls' posts are left-wing political correctness at their most ridiculous.

The statement that "Custer murdered thousands of southern (sic) civilians is a patent lie as is assertion that " (he) slaughtered Indian old men, women, and children". The accusation of 'genocide' is laughable. The numbers of Native Americans have multiplied, not decreased during the last century and a half.

On 25 June 1876 at the Little Big Horn Native Americans murdered scores of wounded, defenseless U.S. troopers; literally butchered the bodies of the fallen; and stole everything they could get their hands on. The Native American thieves happened to miss the guidon because a trooper had protected it with his body.

They only beat General Custer because they happened to outnumber his force by 25:1. Even with such odds in their favor, the Native Americans still could not defeat General Custer's fellow officers, Reno and Benteen. As warriors, the Native Americans were both cowardly and sadistic.

When General Crook and a small contingent of reinforcements arrived after the battle, Sitting Bull and the other Native American criminals were already fleeing to Canada. General Custer and his troops had completely taken the fight out of them. The Native Americans would never again attempt to fight the U.S. Army in a major engagement, even when they again greatly outnumber the U.S. Army.

Since the 19th century Native Americans have been on welfare provided by men of European descent. Now the Native Americans, who for centuries stole women, horses, land, etc. from each other, and their leftist allies want to work a Stalinist theft of history.

The guidon symbolizes the immense sacrifices made by men of European descent to secure this country from filthy, dishonorable savages like Sitting Bull and his contingent of pathetic Native Americans.

Hence this guidon should be given a place of honor at the Smithsonian with an appropriate commentary commemorating the service of the Seventh Cavalry to the U.S.

hlevine127 Jun 28th 2010 2:58PM

Hey too bad the native americans didn't have a better immigration policy.
No whites allowed! Maybe we could've had a better history than greed, murder, and disgust.

Patrick Jun 28th 2010 5:00PM

I totally agree. Our history and it's "heroes" are not what we are taught. To the victors go the history books. Sadly, we ARE TAUGHT THE ROMANTIC AND QUAINT CRAP THAT MAKES US FEEL GOOD. We do not talk or read about, much less study the facts of the Boston Tea Party being a scam to make the colonists feel England was taxing them too much when the truth be told, John Hancock was a tea smuggler (a criminal act) and English tea was cheaper than his smuggled tea. How to get public support? Lie to the people and stage the tea party, of which the men dressed as indians to hide their identity. That was really brave of them! At least the lieing to the people has not changed! Another tidbit, speaking of flags: BETSY ROSS DID NOT SEW, DESIGN OR MAKE THE FLAG! That was a lie spread by her grandchildren to increase their lot in life. A design for an American flag did not come around until the 1800's.
Yes, Americans are lied to in history books and villains and dispicable people are made heroes.

randy Jul 4th 2010 1:33AM

WOW are you drunk or what??!! Not a passage of your blog is correct or accurate. Not sure what "sources" you have read but you could get better info from the back of a cereal package. You are sooooooooooooo out in the twilight zone that no concise corrective reply can even be fashioned.

Suffice it to say that you are wrong across the board and that you know nothing about Custer, or the battle, or his career, or the Indians, or the times, or history, or . . . the list goes on. . .

If you want to learn the facts, it will take a longtime so bring a sack lunch -- you'll be here for a while LOL

Rae22 Jun 26th 2010 8:46PM

I feel that this should at least stay in the United States with being designated as a National Treasure. I too believe it should be in the Smithsonian with it being put on permanant display, not stowed away in a darkened room or box.

Gino Falzarano Jun 26th 2010 8:48PM

WHY ISN'T THIS FLAG GOING TO THE FAMILY OF THE SOLDIER WHO PROTECTED IT???

roundtowngirl1 Jun 26th 2010 9:14PM

It's unfortunate that the flag is getting so much attention for the wrong reason. It represents our government's systematic genocide of Native Americans. I personally am not one, but am appauled by what happened to them.

Yes, Custer & his men were all killed, but given the cirsumstances wouldn't you have defended your land & family the same way?

The attempted genocide of the Jews by Hitler has been given an important place in history as it should. Why not the similar attempt of genocide by our government of Native Americans? Can anyone answer this question?

upurs Jun 26th 2010 10:14PM

who cares..!

Mac Jun 27th 2010 7:55AM

That flag belongs to the U.S. Army's 7th Cavalry Regiment and should be presented to them without charge. Whether or not we agree with the history, it IS history and should be with its true owners. GARRY OWEN! (If you don't understand that reference, ask any member of the 7th.)

Patrick Jun 28th 2010 5:41PM

Hmmmmm. Seems there are millions and millions of war artifacts from other countries residing in pawn shops, homes and antique stores here in the good old US of A. Maybe we should be returning these items BEFORE we go around whining about this flag being returned to the Army. The Army lost it in battle! To the victors go the spoils. Just like the spoils that fill museums across American that were native American artifacts.

Richard Jun 27th 2010 12:04AM

If you think ...the flag is government property and should be sent to the Smithsonian in Washington D.C.. Color Guards and guidon bearers were charged with protecting the flag from capture. Their duty was to either tear the flag up, burn it, or as a last act, hide it from capture. It did not give them, their family, or any finder a right to claim it. (Unless captured as a spoil of war). I recall the First Cavalry Division allowed their colors to get captured in Korea and they caught hell for years over it.

JEB BUCKINGHAM Jun 27th 2010 1:25AM

I have to agree that the flag was government property and should have been turned over to West Point Academy where George Custer is buried, or to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. for ALL of the American people to see. Whether General George A. Custer was right or wrong is beside the point. He fought and died for this country, along with some 267 other soldiers at the Little Bighorn Battlefield in Montana.
On a different note, I once spent a night on the battlefield many years ago, and it was truly terrifying. The spirits of the men of 7th Cavalry are still trapped there, in this earthly plane. Ghosts DO exist!

Kath Jun 27th 2010 4:47AM

This flag SHOULD be in The Smithsonian!!! What happens if this flag is purchased by a Japanese collector or an Arabian Oil Magnate? Part of our history will be gone!

THIS is exactly the reason why ANYONE who donates an item to a museum should stipulate that the artifact may never be sold or moved and must always be kept on display. And leave instructions that the artifact is to revert back to their family if these conditions are not met.

I'm sure that the FAMILY would rather have had the 5 million if the museum was not going to HONOR the donation in the spirit that it was given.

Sadly, MANY artifacts ARE sold by museums or else stored away for years at a time!

Jim Cleary Jun 28th 2010 7:43AM

Custer wore Arrow shirts

Bob Jun 28th 2010 8:22AM

This is a travesty. This is still the property of the US Govt. And no one has ever looked kindly at General Custer. He led his men into a slaughter. If he had survived he may have even been court marshaled. However this is an artifact of the US Government and yes should be in the Smithsonian, as an example of what can and will go wrong with the wrong leadership, (look at what's going on in Washington today). American soldiers and native Americans both died that day. Let this artifact be displayed in a museum to illustrate the sacrifice in American culture, both the good and the bad and the sacrifice of the American people and what it took to become the greatest nation on earth.

Ron St Jean Jun 28th 2010 8:46AM

Thank you to all 7th Cavalry Troopers past and present that have served our nation.
They answer the call and fight and die by direction of the President of the United States. When history is being made it is not the the Troopers decision. He fights for his country and his Troopers beside him.

Lt. Gen Hal Moore said. "Everyone Should Hate War but Love the Warrior"

See you at Fiddler's Green.

"GarryOwen", Saint B1/7 Cav Vietnam

ndangerspc Jun 28th 2010 8:59AM

This flag of Custers is a disgrace to the American people, There were Woman and Children killed by the hundreds, some with their heads bashed in to save bullets, I wouldn't wipe my ass with this piece of filth

brian Jun 28th 2010 9:54AM

Perhaps you could use it to wash out your filthy mouth....AFTER you wipe your ass with it. Show some resoect you fkng twit.

Joe Jun 28th 2010 9:47AM

People who even remotely give genocide any place in something the US Govenment did to the native American's are people who really have no idea what they are talking about. Even wishing to compare what happened tot he Jews in WWII to be anyhting like what happened to the native American's is plain stupidity! Please, learn the difference in the two before you talk of such things, it only makes you look very lacking in many areas including any kind of knowledge of what actually happened in our past and why. Seems to me those kind of people will say anything they can to cast a bad light on our govenemnt, they will lie with a straight face or be very happy in not knowing the real facts of history so they feel ok passing along such drivvel.

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