George Armstrong Custer

Object Details

Artist

John Goldin & Company

Sitter

George Armstrong Custer, 5 Dec 1839 - 25 Jun 1876

Exhibition Label

Born New Rumley, Ohio

In June 1861, George Armstrong Custer graduated last in his West Point class of thirty-four. With the start of the Civil War, his ambition to fight was keen; he participated in the conflict from beginning to end, from Manassas to Appomattox. Fearless and fortunate, Custer made the most of every opportunity of engaging the enemy. Promotions followed quickly, and at age twenty-three he became the youngest Union officer to wear a general’s star. Before the war was over, he was donning a pair of stars and commanding the Third Division of Philip Sheridan’s cavalry corps. In the days just before Robert E. Lee’s surrender, it was Custer’s men who played a supporting role in blocking the enemy’s retreat near Appomattox. One of the white surrender flags was even presented to Custer himself.

Nacido en New Rumley, Ohio

De los treinta y cuatro estudiantes que se graduaron de West Point en junio de 1861, George Armstrong Custer fue el menos aventajado. Sin embargo, ambicionaba luchar en la recién comenzada Guerra Civil, y en efecto participó en ella de principio a fin, desde Manassas hasta Appomattox. Valiente y favorecido por la suerte, Custer aprovechó al máximo cada oportunidad de enfrentarse al enemigo. Ascendió rápidamente, y a los veintitrés años era ya el general más joven de la Unión. Antes de terminar la guerra tenía ya dos estrellas y comandaba la tercera división del cuerpo de caballería de Philip Sheridan. Días antes de la rendición de Robert E. Lee, fueron los hombres de Custer quienes sirvieron de apoyo para bloquear el retroceso de las fuerzas enemigas cerca de Appomattox. De hecho, ante él personalmente fue presentada una de las banderas blancas de la rendición.

Credit Line

National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution

c. 1865

Object number

NPG.2012.54

Restrictions & Rights

CC0

Type

Photograph

Medium

Albumen silver print

Dimensions

Image/Sheet: 9.3 × 5.6cm (3 11/16 × 2 3/16")

Mount: 10.2 × 6.2cm (4 × 2 7/16")

Place

United States\District of Columbia\Washington

See more items in

National Portrait Gallery Collection

Location

Currently not on view

National Portrait Gallery

Topic

Interior

Home Furnishings\Furniture\Seating\Chair

Costume\Headgear\Hat

Personal Attribute\Facial Hair\Mustache

Costume\Dress Accessory\Button\Brass

Photographic format\Carte-de-visite

George Armstrong Custer: Male

George Armstrong Custer: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Civil War\Union Army

Portrait

Record ID

npg_NPG.2012.54

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4096b858e-5ce1-46af-a16e-f58aed8e7127