8" X 5" Broadside - Headquarters Third Cavalry Division - Brevet Major General Commanding George A. Custer - Civil War

CUSTER, G. A. BREVET MAJOR GENERAL COMMANDING,

Publication: George A Custer, April 9, 1865, Appomattox, Virginia

First edition. 20.4 x 12.5 cm [8" x 5"] broadside titled "Headquarters Third Cavalry Division, Appomattox Court House, Va., April 9, 1865." Addressed to: "Soldiers of the Third Cavalry Division." This small broadside conveys a message from General Custer to the Third Cavalry Division immediately following Lee & his army's surrender, expressing his admiration for them and thanking them for their service. "Your Commanding General avails himself of this his first opportunity to express to you his admiration of the heroic manner in which you have passed through the series of battles which to-day resulted in the surrender of the enemy's entire army." He closes his tribute by saying : "And now, speaking for myself alone, when the war is ended and the task of the historian begins -- when those deeds of daring which have rendered the name and fame of the Third Cavalry Division imperishable, are inscribed upon the bright pages of history, I only ask that my name may be written as that of the Commander of the Third Cavalry Division." The document is signed in print by G. A. CUSTER. An old vertical fold and lightly stained across bottom edge else a very good copy. OCLC locates only one copy at the University of Michigan in the Clements Library. Unknown to relevant bibliographies, this is the first copy to be offered on the market in many years.

Inventory Number: 51572