Custer, George A. (1839-1876). ALS as Post Commander stationed with the 7th US Cavalry Regiment at Fort Lincoln, 1p, approx. 5 x 8 in., "Fort A. Lincoln." May 13 [1873-1876]. Addressed to “Mr. Wm Courtenay." A brief letter expressing thanks for gifts received from William Courtenay, then serving as Postmaster at Fort Berthold Indian Agency in the Dakota Territory. Custer and his wife Libbie resided at Fort Lincoln, located just south of the Fort Berthold Indian Agency, from 1873 until Custer's death in 1876. It is unclear exactly how and when Courtenay and Custer came to be acquainted. (See Lot 378 for the Fort Berthold/William Courtenay Archive.) Custer writes in full: "Sir / On my return from the East two days since I found your letter and the two beautiful and acceptable gifts for Mrs. Custer and myself. Will you accept our sincere thanks and be assured we appreciate most highly the robe and the slippers. / Very Truly Yours / [signed] GA Custer."Custer was summoned to Washington, DC in March 1876 to testify regarding alleged corruption at frontier army posts, returning to his regiment in May 1876. If this is the trip East to which Custer refers, this letter of May 13 could be among the last written by him before his death on June 25, 1876.