Custer scholars and buffs find treasures among Glen Swanson’s Battle of the Little Big Horn relics.
"Custer’s Last Strand” made news around the nation after links of the controversial cavalry commander’s curly blond hair sold at the June 9 auction highlighting Glen Swanson’s collection at Heritage Auctions.
A barber cut the 50 or so strands of hair in 1864, a year after 23-year-old George Custer became the youngest general in the Union Army. George had saved the locks to send as a keepsake to his wife, Libbie, but Confederates captured the envelope among his belongings during the Battle of Trevilian Station in June before he could mail it. He recovered his items on October 9, after a battle jokingly known as the “Woodstock Races,” since Custer and his troops had chased and killed scattered enemy Confederates for miles.
This story is from the August 2018 edition of True West.
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This story is from the August 2018 edition of True West.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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Where Did the Loot Go? - This is one of those find the money stories. And it's one that has attracted treasure hunters for more than 150 years.
Whatever happened to the $97,000 from the Reno Gang's last heist? Up to a dozen members of the Reno Gang stopped a Jeffersonville, Madison and Indianapolis train at a watering station in southern Indiana. The outlaws had prior intelligence about its main load: express car safes held about $97,000 in government bonds and notes. In the process of the job, one of the crew was killed and two others hurt. The gang made a clean getaway with the loot.
Hero of Horsepower - Los Angeles lawman William Hammel tamed one of the West's wildest towns with hard work and horseless carriages.
Los Angeles lawman William Hammel tamed one of the West's wildest towns with hard work and horseless carriages.
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