TENTING ON THE PLAINS OR GENERAL CUSTER IN KANSAS AND TEXAS.

New York: Charles L. Webster & Co., 1887. xiii,702pp. Engraved plates by Remington and others. Frontis. portrait of General Custer with facsimile signature. Maps. Brown cloth with 7th Cavalry guidons on the front cover with a gilt cavalry saber and title on the spine. First edition. Externally, there is wear to the corners and fraying of the spine ends. Internally, the hinges have been repaired, and the pages exhibit some age toning. Overall, good. Pingenot, Catalogue 1 – Western American 53: “Although written by Custer’s widow to defend her husband’s honor, she succeeds more in giving a wonderful picture of life in Western army posts from a woman’s point of view. Included are several chapters on her stay in Austin and commentary on the state of lawlessness in Texas at that time.” Raines, Bibliography of Texas p.60: “An interesting account of army life on the Indian border.” Luther, Custer High Spots 5: “The writings of Elizabeth Custer are well worth reading for their picture of frontier army life and tracing Custer’s career on the western plains. Mrs. Custer was a charming and talented woman who idolized her husband.” This, the second of Mrs. Custer trilogy on her life with General Custer, is generally considered the best of the three. It focuses on the period immediately after the Civil War when they were stationed in Texas and Kansas. She portrays post-Civil War Texas and her life in Kansas while the General took part in Winfield Hancock’s 1867 campaign against the Indians between the Arkansas and Platte Rivers. Throughout the book, Mrs. Custer gives detailed descriptions of army life on the frontier during a period of major Indian unrest. She opens her book with a biographical sketch of her husband. Enhanced by the illustrations of Remington and others.