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Artist
John Goldin & Company
Sitter
George Armstrong Custer, 5 Dec 1839 - 25 Jun 1876
Date
c. 1865
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")
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
Place
United States\District of Columbia\Washington
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Object number
NPG.2012.54
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.
