Original 1874 Photograph George Custer & Wife Grouping

A Glimpse into Custer's Domestic Life: An 1874 Photograph & the Story of His Trusted Wagon Master

This extraordinary grouping offers a rare and intimate glimpse into the life of the controversial and iconic Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer and his beloved wife Elizabeth "Libbie," centered around an original 1874 photograph of the couple at their home at Fort Abraham Lincoln in North Dakota. This image, one of only four known original copies from that period, provides a fascinating window into their personal life amidst the backdrop of the Indian Wars.

Captured in 1874, just two years before Custer's fateful last stand at the Little Bighorn, this photograph, still housed in its original frame and matte under glass (albeit with a cracked glass), offers a unique perspective on the famed cavalry officer away from the battlefield. It allows us to see Custer and Libbie in a domestic setting, providing a humanizing counterpoint to the often-mythologized and debated figure of the "Boy General." Fort Abraham Lincoln, established in 1872, served as a crucial staging point for military expeditions against the Native American tribes of the Northern Plains, and it was here that the Custers made their home.

Accompanying this rare photograph is a cavalry saber, a quintessential symbol of Custer's command. While the saber itself is not directly attributed to Custer by name, the presence of a stamped "T" on the blade near the brass guard and its period-correct wire-wrapped leather grip strongly suggest its association with a cavalry officer of the era. The unsharpened blade edge and manageable surface rust indicate it was likely a presentation piece or a sidearm that saw limited active combat. Imagine this saber hanging at the side of an officer stationed at Fort Abraham Lincoln during those pivotal years.

Adding another fascinating layer to this grouping is a large framed photo portrait of Charles Borowsky, a Russian immigrant whose life became inextricably linked with Custer's. Borowsky's story is a remarkable tale of adaptation and service. A Civil War veteran who served as a Sergeant in Custer's cavalry and was wounded in the head, he later rejoined Custer and the 7th Cavalry as a civilian wagon master during the Indian Wars. Borowsky's linguistic skills made him invaluable, serving as an interpreter during Custer's buffalo hunts with European royalty, highlighting the surprising social circles Custer moved in. Borowsky departed Fort Abraham Lincoln with Custer on May 17th, 1876, and was with the supply wagons when Custer and his battalion rode ahead towards the Little Bighorn. This portrait, taken later in Borowsky's life, offers a visual connection to this trusted companion and interpreter.

Completing this evocative collection is the four-drawer wood dresser, likely walnut with its original finish and distinctive carved nut and leaf drawer pulls, used by Charles Borowsky himself at Fort Abraham Lincoln. This piece of furniture provides a tangible link to Borowsky's daily life at the fort, the same location where the photograph of Custer and Libbie was taken. The presence of locks on each drawer, though without keys, hints at the personal belongings Borowsky would have kept within.

This grouping, carefully handed down through the family before being displayed at the Wild West Town Museum for the past 35 years, offers a unique and multifaceted perspective on George Armstrong Custer and the world he inhabited at Fort Abraham Lincoln. The intimate photograph, the cavalry saber, the portrait of his trusted associate Borowsky, and the very dresser Borowsky used, together create a compelling narrative of life on the American frontier during a pivotal and ultimately tragic period of American history. It's a rare opportunity to connect with the personal lives of figures who played significant roles in the nation's westward expansion and the dramatic events of the late 19th century.

This item is lot #1197 in our Upcoming Civil War Auction on May 3 at Donley Auctions.