Gibbon John (1827-1896) Unpublished Autograph Manuscript Custer & his Orders

Gibbon, John (1827-1896) Unpublished Autograph Manuscript, Custer & his Orders , c. 1890. Folio wove paper, consisting of nineteen leaves, each inscribed on one side, with an additional nine lines of manuscript notes on two other slips of paper, the main text written on 9 3/4 x 7 1/2 in. sheets, totaling approximately 2,500 words, several sheets with edits, easily readable; minor edge wear, in a modern custom morocco case, gilt spine, leather labels. A firsthand account of the planning leading up to the massacre at Little Big Horn in June 1876, written by General John Gibbon, who was involved in the planning and operations, and was one of Custer's superior officers. Gibbon and his troops were among the first to arrive at the scene of the battle, and helped to bury Custer's dead and evacuate the survivors. Could the tragedy at Little Big Horn have been avoided, had Custer followed orders? In this seemingly unpublished account, Gibbon explains that he met with General Alfred Terry, Major Marcus Reno, and Custer on June 21, 1876 to determine the plan of attack. Smoke from Indian fires had been spotted from the valley of the Little Big Horn, "and hence it was inferred there must be a camp of Indians somewhere along that stream. The question discussed was how to approach them and strike them to the best advantage. [...] I think Genl. Terry had already made up his mind, when the discussion took place, to send Custer with a command to follow up the trail discovered by Reno. [...] Read more…