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 3 of 5)

Patrick Jun 28th 2010 5:37PM

Surely you jest! You are ignorant to think what you read in the history books is even remotely the truth. What editor paid by tax dollars would allow a book used to educate people tell the truth. You are a little zombie that accepts whatever the government tells you. You need to get a grip on reality and start reading and studying and visiting a few historical sites before you make such comments. Hitler relied on people like you to follow him into hell and, for the most part, the German people did. Likewise, Americans were lied to and some editor in New York created "Manifest Destiiny". Manifest Destiny, simplified, states that GOD gave white Americans the right to slaughter the original inhabitants of North America to take what they felt GOD had created for them. That sounds pretty familiar as it may just relate to the two wars this country is embroiled in now with NO exit in sight. (July 2011 is not here yet). It scares me that so many people that have never read anything more than an 5th grade history book are making comments that are so blatantly ignorant. The scarier part is that they are allowed to raise kids and teach them this modus operandi. And they vote. They say we get the government we dseserve.

Patrick Jun 28th 2010 5:36PM

Ahhhh Joe, Joe Joe. You really are ignorant to what your governemnt has done, is doing and the effort to stoop to NEW LOWS to get what it wants. You are flat wrong. The ordered and expeditious of assimilation or destruction of native Americans was a priority for the government so the super wealthy could get their free land to build railroads and take as much gold out of land that they did not own. Let's just admit it, you are lacking the knowledge to even comment on the history of the relations between the U.S. Government and Native Americans. Maybe you should go back to the flea market. I think there are a lot more German Nazi artifacts there for sale!

Joe Jun 28th 2010 8:32PM

Wow Patrick, sounds to me like you must live some other place than the USA. I mean, if you actually live by what you say that is. After all, in YOUR eyes our founding fathers and the govenment of the US was and "probably today is" no different than Hitler. If I personally believed that I would have nothing at all to do with this country or anyone who did, but I don't believe anything close to that as you say you do. Maybe it's "ok" to turn a blind eye an only "talk" about how bad people are rather than doing something about it such as showing everyone who does matter to you how you wouldn't be ANY part of such people. Or is it that it's "ok" to get as much as you possibly can, do all the things you like to do in this country but only talk the talk of how terrible and bad these people and govenment are? Gee, if I beleived anything close to what you seem to, I would be on the very first plane out of here that's for sure! After all, never know it just might be you or your kind (whatever kind that may be) that this govenment decides to commit genocide on??? No, you can rest assured I would have nothing at all to do with anyone or anyplace that was like Hitler. Tell ya what, keep beleiving all your sad drivvel, how plain sadistic the US govenment was and most likely still is, how they tried to snuff out a whole race of people and while you're at all that, keep reaping the rewards this country and it's govenment make very possible for you to have ok. How do you sleep at night anyway, ya know living in a country that is no different than Hitler was??? The facts are Patrick, our govenment is now nor has ever been perfect, they've have and will do some things that will make most people very upset from time to time. but in no way, either in the past or the present has the US government gone the genocide way. Not against the Native American's, not against the black race, not against ANYONE! Maybe you're just a little confused? Maybe you need to look up the actual meaning of genocide? WHat Hitler did his best to do tot he Jews was genocide, what the US Government did to the N.A. wasn't, not even close. It was plenty of bad things but genocide is NOT one of them. Please excuse my typo's and mis spellings, I'm sure there are plenty.

HappyCulprit Jun 28th 2010 11:57AM

The flag was purchased with public funds and should remain in the public view. Sotheby's should turn it over to the United States Military Academy at West Point to be preserved in its museum. After all, Custer was a West Pointer and is buried there. It is already property of the US Government because it was a flag carried by a military unit.

Toni Walton Jun 28th 2010 12:04PM

Who cares, you say? REAL AMERICANS WHO VALUE THE HISTORY OF THE NATION CARE! I can not believe that you would say such a thing!

Toni Walton Jun 28th 2010 12:15PM

Yes, women and children were killed, as has been the case in all wars. The flag still represents a period in history that should be revered BECAUSE it's history. You didn't say anything about what side you were on! The Lakota and other Native Americans fought for their land, the way of life, and their Gods. The white man could not understand that, though in the end, the white man won. It was the last great stand of Native Americans and will long be remembered within their annals. Respect what they did and respect the troopers that were killed, among them blacks. The history of this nation has been written in blood, on both sides of the oceans, from sea to shining sea. But this is AMERICA in all it's glory.

Deb Lindsay Jun 28th 2010 12:52PM

I AGREE WITH GINO & SNUFFY. IF IT CAN'T GO TO THE FAMILY IT SHOULD BE PROTECTED BY THE GOVERMENT. IT IS A NATIONAL ARCHIVE.

truloff695 Jun 28th 2010 1:30PM

It is so refreshing that there are so many "experts" out there that know exactly what transpired, why it happened, who was to blame..etc.

But what is realistic is these "experts" can put down the American Indian for only defending what was rightfully theirs, and accuse them of being thieves and sadistic killers, but are at a loss when it it pointed out that these attrocities were initiated by the federal troops while trying to exterminate the inhabitants of this country, (seems only fair to do like with like).

Give the guidon to the American Indians, they deserve it, won it fair and square if you ask me, it was on their land, Custer was a trespasser, seems the thieves here were all wearing blue, probably the trooper was going to keep it as a memento anyway.

Bill Williams Jun 28th 2010 1:20PM

I'm still somewhat curious as to why this flag is not still considered "Government Property". While not an authority on History or the laws of the time, I am under the impression that the Military, even back then, were quite concerned with regard to what happened to such items and suspect its discovery was likely never reported up the chain of command otherwise it is very likely this flag would, at the very least, be on display in a Military museum.
As to what it "represents", one can make arguments in either extreme but the fact remains that it was what many (including myself) consider to be less than a sterling mark on our Military History, (and this coming from a 20 year Army Veteran) and a mindset that we should never, again, embrace.
Those on either side of the event can happily embrace their own beliefs but the flag should remain on display for all to contemplate.

velocityss Jun 28th 2010 2:45PM

anything of history should be keep in the us. But if this is worth 5 mil. then any thing that was sitting bulls should be worth 10 mil. or a least the same. Sitting bull did more for his people and for freedom . sitting bull was more of a hero than custer could dream.

Diana Jun 28th 2010 2:22PM

Auction this flag off? Why isn't this in the Smithsonian?

Harvey Jun 28th 2010 2:20PM

Roundtowngirl 1 Ok, you asked, I'll answere. I've done a lot of research about the American Indian and found quite a lot. Yes, there were many travesties and massacres on both sides. Back then it was an eye for an eye and the Indians were considered lower than beast savages and guess who made many of them that way? The Spanish silver mines in Mexico for 500 years had been trading horses for human slaves. Horses were the Indians economy so they became ensnared in the human slave trade and that is what became of many of the early settlers. When our government tried to stop the capture of it's citizens who were killed or enslaved, the Indians saw it as interfering and hurting their economic engine. They were protecting their economy and way of life ane we were protecting our citizens who the Indians felt were (and rightly so) encroaching upon their ancestral lands. So, it got to a point where, if the Indians did not adapt to a new way of life, they were eliminated.

PJK Jun 28th 2010 2:36PM

Lakota people should properly have this flag . . it was they who stopped that butcher.

john Jun 28th 2010 2:33PM

Give it to the Native Americans, one of the best victories in the fight for freedom and against aggression.

Bob Burchfield Jun 28th 2010 3:14PM

Tonyrawl, your arrogrance is only exceeded by your ignorance. For example you stste that " The number of native Americans have multified". I guess the slaughter of the Jews did not happen since they too have multified. The Indians were on their own land and were invaded by this child rapist (check records as to why he was assigned there in the first place). I hate this SOB and hope to see him in hell. By the way I am an Native American and damn proud of it.

KATMAAN Jun 28th 2010 7:00PM

Here's an idea. Why don't all you people put up the money to buy it aand donate it to the Smithsonian?

Afterall, you paid for all the bank bail outs

BILL MURODCK Jun 28th 2010 6:35PM

Someone should buy it and donate it to the Museum of Natural History at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, where they have the preserved body of Custer's horse on display.
Bill Murdock
KU, 1963

TMZ SUCKS AND IS ENTERTAINMENT FOR MORONS Jun 28th 2010 6:45PM

I hope one of the rich indian casino tribes buys it and displays it!! ROFLMAO. Custer was an A-hole!! Ya gotta love america....we killed all the buffalo and then started a cattle industry!!???!!??!! Can you say headUpAss?

TMZ SUCKS AND IS ENTERTAINMENT FOR MORONS Jun 28th 2010 6:56PM

That flag is the flag of perhaps the stupidest military mind in american history.
Custer led his 200 men into battle against 6000 pissed off Lakota warriors. It was said that some of the soldiers bodies had over 100 arrows in them. Custer was an imbecile....as dumb as George Bush.

pikespeakrentals Jul 4th 2010 2:02AM

Everyone on the blog, especailly TMZ, should stop. You do not know enough about the guy or the battle to even comment. You are embarassing yourselves. There were not "6000" warriors, or 25:1 odds, or any of that. Things simply went badly. Reno and Benteen did not obey orders, and the bluffs over the river hampered the flank attack, until finally, being unsupported by Benteen despite clear orders, they ran out of ammunition.

You really should go home.

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