RARE ARCHIVE OF LT. BENJAMIN HODGSON INCLUDING TWO GEORGE CUSTER LETTERS WRITTEN TO HIM ALONG WITH OFFICIAL CERTIFICATION OF HIS REMAINS FROM LITTLE BIGHORN BATTLEFIELD.

2nd Lt. Benjamin Hubert Hodgson was a West Point graduate in 1870 and was a personal favorite of George Custer as noted in these letters. The first letter, 3-pages long is marked “personal” dated Ft. Lincoln December 7 1874. Hodgson was facing court-martial for threatening a local with a pistol and conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman. Hodgson had sought Custers aid as a character witness and Custer’s letter is of a personal nature telling Hodgson of the environs of Ft. Lincoln and that “Mrs. Custer joins me in high regards”. The second letter with the same date is quite official and was obviously to be used as evidence and read at the trial of Hodgson’s character. Custer writes “…as the officer under whom most of your service has been rendered, you have served upon my staff as well as having commanded a company under me for a considerable period. I desire to testify to you and for you if possible my high appreciation of your character, both as an officiant and meritorious officer, and a thorough and courteous gentleman. I have ever found you ready and prompt to undertake any duty assigned you and once assigned you have always, without fail, rendered complete satisfaction in its thorough discharge… I feel confident from my long and intimate acquaintance with your character that if you have done or have failed to do (anything) inconsistent with your duty or opposed to the service it has been the result of neither desire or intention on your part but likely a simple error of judgment…I should deeply regret to learn that the result of your trial was unfavorable to you or your interests and I am sure that in all that I have written herein every officer of your regiment who has served with you would add their unqualified concurrence…” Custer took care of “his own”. Hodgson was acquitted and returned to Custers command at Ft. Lincoln and on June 25 1876 became one of the first officers to fall. Capt. Thomas MacDougal along with two of his enlisted men recovered Lt. Hodgson’s body and carried it to the breastworks on Reno Hill. They sewed him up in a blanket and poncho and buried him. Hodgson may have been the only officer to have been buried during the battle. There is a Bismark Dakota Territory clerk sealed paper which states “I do hereby certify that Lt. Ben. Hodgson 7th Cavalry US Army was killed June 25 1876 at the battle of The Little Bighorn River Montana and here are his remains. Signed by the post surgeon at Ft. Lincoln July 11 1877. This document is certified and signed by the mayor of Bismark. Also included in this lot are three envelopes, one being the wrapper for the Hodgson letter received by Custer and a rail pass for Hodgson on the Northern Pacific Railroad 1874. PROVENANCE: Bonham’s 2004 Lots 76, 77 & 78. CONDITION: The 3 noted letters are very good with light soiling, more on the Surgeons Certification. Envelopes and return letter receipt are discernible with tears; missing portions as can be seen in photographs. Railroad pass is very good. 4-54965 JS133 (20,000-30,000) – Lot 1431

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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
	1431	$46,000.00	RARE ARCHIVE OF LT. BENJAMIN HODGSON INCLUDING TWO GEORGE CUSTER LETTERS WRITTEN TO HIM ALONG WITH OFFICIAL CERTIFICATION OF HIS REMAINS FROM LITTLE BIGHORN BATTLEFIELD. 2nd Lt. Benjamin Hubert Hodgson was a West Point graduate in 1870 and was a personal favorite of George Custer as noted in these letters. The first letter, 3-pages long is marked “personal” dated Ft. Lincoln December 7 1874. Hodgson was facing court-martial for threatening a local with a pistol and conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman. Hodgson had sought Custers aid as a character witness and Custer’s letter is of a personal nature telling Hodgson of the environs of Ft. Lincoln and that “Mrs. Custer joins me in high regards”. The second letter with the same date is quite official and was obviously to be used as evidence and read at the trial of Hodgson’s character. Custer writes “…as the officer under whom most of your service has been rendered, you have served upon my staff as well as having commanded a company under me for a considerable period. I desire to testify to you and for you if possible my high appreciation of your character, both as an officiant and meritorious officer, and a thorough and courteous gentleman. I have ever found you ready and prompt to undertake any duty assigned you and once assigned you have always, without fail, rendered complete satisfaction in its thorough discharge… I feel confident from my long and intimate acquaintance with your character that if you have done or have failed to do (anything) inconsistent with your duty or opposed to the service it has been the result of neither desire or intention on your part but likely a simple error of judgment…I should deeply regret to learn that the result of your trial was unfavorable to you or your interests and I am sure that in all that I have written herein every officer of your regiment who has served with you would add their unqualified concurrence…” Custer took care of “his own”. Hodgson was acquitted and returned to Custers command at Ft. Lincoln and on June 25 1876 became one of the first officers to fall. Capt. Thomas MacDougal along with two of his enlisted men recovered Lt. Hodgson’s body and carried it to the breastworks on Reno Hill. They sewed him up in a blanket and poncho and buried him. Hodgson may have been the only officer to have been buried during the battle. There is a Bismark Dakota Territory clerk sealed paper which states “I do hereby certify that Lt. Ben. Hodgson 7th Cavalry US Army was killed June 25 1876 at the battle of The Little Bighorn River Montana and here are his remains. Signed by the post surgeon at Ft. Lincoln July 11 1877. This document is certified and signed by the mayor of Bismark. Also included in this lot are three envelopes, one being the wrapper for the Hodgson letter received by Custer and a rail pass for Hodgson on the Northern Pacific Railroad 1874. PROVENANCE: Bonham’s 2004 Lots 76, 77 & 78. CONDITION: The 3 noted letters are very good with light soiling, more on the Surgeons Certification. Envelopes and return letter receipt are discernible with tears; missing portions as can be seen in photographs. Railroad pass is very good. 4-54965 JS133 (20,000-30,000) – Lot 1431 Click here to view provenance 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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RARE ARCHIVE OF LT. BENJAMIN HODGSON INCLUDING TWO GEORGE CUSTER LETTERS WRITTEN TO HIM ALONG WITH OFFICIAL CERTIFICATION OF HIS REMAINS FROM LITTLE BIGHORN BATTLEFIELD.