General George Custer’s 3×5 HQ Flag – Sewn and Embroidered Cotton

General George Armstrong Custer is best known for his spectacular defeat at Little Bighorn Montana where he and his entire 7th Cavalry fought to their deaths against the Sioux and Cheyenne Indians of the Northern Plains. This event often overshadows the fact that Custer was one of the finest cavalry officers to have served on either side during the war between the states as evidenced by his outstanding leadership, bravery, and achievements in the Civil War. Custer held the rank of Captain at the beginning of the war and fought at the very first major battle, Manassas. By the end of the war, he had been promoted to Major General and at just 25 years old he is the youngest officer in US military history to ever achieve the rank. After the war’s end, the United States downsized its military, and Custer’s rank was reduced back to Captain he was assigned to Texas where he commanded all of the US Cavalry there with his headquarters in Austin but was soon thereafter promoted to Lt. Colonel in 1866 as he was given command of the 7th Cavalry Regiment at Ft. Abraham Lincoln in the Dakota territory.

There were four different flags used as Custer’s personal guidon, all having a similar design. This fourth guidon design was hand-made by Custer’s beloved wife Elizabeth “Libbie”. She had promised to make him a new flag that he could carry during the Appomattox Campaign. Just before the battle of Dinwiddie, General Custer dispatched Lieutenant Peter Boehm back to Washington with letters to the war department as well as a personal letter to his wife Libbie who had completed the new flag for her husband. After receiving the flag, Boehm wrapped the flag around his body and concealed it under his uniform as he had to ride through Confederate territory where Colonel Mosby was known to be active and he feared being captured. Boehm did make it back safely and presented the flag to the General who was very pleased with the beautiful new guidon. It was flown as Custer’s personal guidon for the remainder of the war from Dinwiddie through Appomattox where he and the 3rd Cavalry Division under his command were instrumental in forcing the surrender of General Lee. Custer always had the flag close to him and when it became too worn to use on the field he placed it on display in his study at Ft. Abraham Lincoln, which is where it was when Custer was killed at Little Bighorn on June 25th, 1876.

This is a reproduction of Custer’s 4th personal calvary guidon that was hand-made by his wife Libbie. The actual dimensions and materials are not exactly the same as the original flag. The artwork is visible on both sides of the flag.

Cotton flags feature a very heavy, luxurious look and feel. They are commonly used indoors because of their old-world, hand-crafted appearance but can also be flown outside for parades and special events, although they are not very durable or fade-resistant with prolonged exposure to the outdoor elements. Cotton flags are also suitable for tea staining and/or framing and hanging indoors.