FABULOUS RARE AND HISTORIC UNIQUE EARLY 1877 HAND DRAWN MAP OF THE CUSTER BATTLEFIELD BY WILLIAM PHILO CLARK.

This map on silked paper made specially for map making in the 19th century measures 14″ x 10″ and is mostly identical to an apparent paper example drawn in black, blue and red ink in the National Archive Collection. William Philo Clark was appointed to the US Military Academy at West Point and graduated in 1868. He was assigned as a Second Lieutenant with the U.S. 2d Cavalry Regiment, to which he belonged for the remainder of his short career. He joined the staff of General George Crook at the end of August, 1876, when Crook rejoined the columns of General Alfred Terry and Colonel John Gibbon after the Battles of the Rosebud and the Little Bighorn during the Great Sioux War of 1876. Clark was thus present for Crook’s pursuit of the Lakota during the late summer and fall of 1876, including the so-called “Starvation March” and the Battle of Slim Buttes. He served in a number of staff assignments for General Philip Sheridan and died suddenly at the age of 39, in Washington, DC in 1884 while on special duty with Sheridan. He was the author of the 1885 book The Indian Sign Language (published posthumously), to this day the definitive and comprehensive primary source on the rich sign language of The Great Plains tribes. He died young, not fulfilling what was generally agreed to be his extraordinary potential as an enlightened army officer, as conceived at the time. Clark had interviewed Indians who had actually fought Custer after the battle and his early definitive map and accompanying report provide the earliest significant factual insights into the battle. Lt. W Philo Clark was the Army’s acknowledged expert in sign language and Crazy Horse spoke no English, Clark was assigned the task of interviewing and debriefing Crazy Horse after his surrender, during Crazy Horse’s captivity at Fort Robinson. Clark’s report on the battle and this map which accompanied the report, was derived from the information obtained by Clark during his sign language interview/debriefing of Crazy Horse and represents the most accurate map from a commanding chief who was there. This map accompanied his original report and is docketed on verso and dated 1877. Clark in his report states that Indian village consisted of 1,200 lodges, 400 wickiups and 3,500 fighting men. This map is referenced and pictured in A.C. Unger’s The ABCs of Custer’s Last Stand and more recently Drawing the Battle Lines The Map Testimony of Custer’s Last Fight by Michael Donahue. This map is among the finest and most unique maps of the Custer Battlefield. CONDITION: Very good as can be seen in photos, several pinholes, soiling and slight separation at folds. There is an additional pencil inscription in upper right quadrant. There are remnants of adhesive in each corner and pinholes in same corners. 4-54964 JS114 (30,000-40,000) – Lot 1430

Auction: Firearms - March 2015

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	1430	$51,750.00	FABULOUS RARE AND HISTORIC UNIQUE EARLY 1877 HAND DRAWN MAP OF THE CUSTER BATTLEFIELD BY WILLIAM PHILO CLARK. This map on silked paper made specially for map making in the 19th century measures 14″ x 10″ and is mostly identical to an apparent paper example drawn in black, blue and red ink in the National Archive Collection. William Philo Clark was appointed to the US Military Academy at West Point and graduated in 1868. He was assigned as a Second Lieutenant with the U.S. 2d Cavalry Regiment, to which he belonged for the remainder of his short career. He joined the staff of General George Crook at the end of August, 1876, when Crook rejoined the columns of General Alfred Terry and Colonel John Gibbon after the Battles of the Rosebud and the Little Bighorn during the Great Sioux War of 1876. Clark was thus present for Crook’s pursuit of the Lakota during the late summer and fall of 1876, including the so-called “Starvation March” and the Battle of Slim Buttes. He served in a number of staff assignments for General Philip Sheridan and died suddenly at the age of 39, in Washington, DC in 1884 while on special duty with Sheridan. He was the author of the 1885 book The Indian Sign Language (published posthumously), to this day the definitive and comprehensive primary source on the rich sign language of The Great Plains tribes. He died young, not fulfilling what was generally agreed to be his extraordinary potential as an enlightened army officer, as conceived at the time. Clark had interviewed Indians who had actually fought Custer after the battle and his early definitive map and accompanying report provide the earliest significant factual insights into the battle. Lt. W Philo Clark was the Army’s acknowledged expert in sign language and Crazy Horse spoke no English, Clark was assigned the task of interviewing and debriefing Crazy Horse after his surrender, during Crazy Horse’s captivity at Fort Robinson. Clark’s report on the battle and this map which accompanied the report, was derived from the information obtained by Clark during his sign language interview/debriefing of Crazy Horse and represents the most accurate map from a commanding chief who was there. This map accompanied his original report and is docketed on verso and dated 1877. Clark in his report states that Indian village consisted of 1,200 lodges, 400 wickiups and 3,500 fighting men. This map is referenced and pictured in A.C. Unger’s The ABCs of Custer’s Last Stand and more recently Drawing the Battle Lines The Map Testimony of Custer’s Last Fight by Michael Donahue. This map is among the finest and most unique maps of the Custer Battlefield. CONDITION: Very good as can be seen in photos, several pinholes, soiling and slight separation at folds. There is an additional pencil inscription in upper right quadrant. There are remnants of adhesive in each corner and pinholes in same corners. 4-54964 JS114 (30,000-40,000) – Lot 1430 Auction: Firearms - March 2015 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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FABULOUS RARE AND HISTORIC UNIQUE EARLY 1877 HAND DRAWN MAP OF THE CUSTER BATTLEFIELD BY WILLIAM PHILO CLARK.