$4,920
Custer, George A. (1839-1876) Autograph Letter Signed, West Point, New York, 6 April 1859. Laid paper bifolium inscribed over four unlined pages, 8 x 10 in., with original sealed envelope. To Minnie St. John, lamenting the five-year academic program at West Point, asking about mutual friends at home, discussing his preparations for exams, and joking about the length of the letter but asking for one of equal length in return. Envelope worn, letter very good with original folding creases and ink smudges. "Dear Minnie, I received and read your welcome letter with great pleasure, and as you accuse me of writing short letters I concluded to commence one on as large a sheet of paper as I could find in my port-folio, whether I shall fill it remains to be seen. Although I (as usual) am enjoying the best of health, I have been very down hearted for a few days and not only myself but every cadet in the corps, are my companions in distress, the cause of it is this. I do not remember whether I told you or not last fall that the Secretary of War had changed the course here from five to four years early last fall, we were all very much pleased with that change but day before yesterday the Secretary of War transmitted the order here to change the course back again to five years notwithstanding the academic board were strongly in favor of the four years course, several cadets are going to resign in consequence of this change- - - if the course had not been changed I would have been half thr Read more…
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2016-10-30
