Important Orders Issued by Gen. George A. Custer on Very Day of Lee's Surrender

Description

GEORGE ARMSTRONG CUSTER
.  A Civil War general and Indian fighter, Michigan-born George Armstrong Custer (1839–1876) distinguished himself as a cavalry commander earning the rank of brigadier general of volunteers at age 23.  Following the Civil War, he became field commander of the 7th Cavalry and led troops in a number of engagements during the Indian Wars.  Custer, together with all of the men under his immediate command, was killed at the Battle of Little Bighorn on June 25, 1876.
OFFICIAL COPY OF HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT CIVIL WAR-DATED FIELD ORDERS ISSUED BY GENERAL GEORGE ARMSTRONG CUSTER TO GENERAL HENRY CAPEHART HANDWRITTEN BY CUSTER’S AIDE-DE-CAMP FOR HIS PERSONAL RECORDS
Official copy of historically important Civil War-dated field orders issued by General George Armstrong Custer to General Henry Capehart handwritten by Custer’s aide-de-camp for his own personal records.  On the very day General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House, General Custer orders General Capehart to take command of the 3rd Division of Cavalry: “In accordance with orders from Major General Sheridan, I have been placed in command of the 1st and 3rd Divisions of Cavalry.  You will upon receipt of this Order, Assume Command of the 3rd Division of Cavalry.”  Capehart was a Medal of Honor recipient who fought under Custer during the Appomattox Campaign.  Custer had recently recommended the promotion of Capehart to General for his actions at Appomattox, for which Custer described, “At Appomattox Station, the 8th inst., Col. Capehart again rendered himself by his skill and bravery.  And to him is much of the credit due, for the successful termination of that obstinate engagement which resulted in the capturing twenty four pieces of Artillery, besides a large number of prisoners, wagons &c.  To say nothing of the influence which this engagement had upon deciding the fortunes of the following day.”
ON THE VERY DAY GENERAL LEE SURRENDERED TO GENERAL GRANT, GENERAL CUSTER ORDERS GENERAL CAPEHART TO TAKE COMMAND OF THE 3RD DIVISION OF CAVALRY
The letter is one page on lined paper, measures 7.75 by 3.25 inches, created at the [Headquarters of the 3rd Cavalry Division at Appomattox Court House] on [April 9, 1865], and in very fine condition with only minor fading to the ink.