LEATHER COVERED PAYMASTER’S CHEST OF LT. EDWARD S. GODFREY, 7TH CAVALRY PAYMASTER UNDER GEORGE ARMSTRONG CUSTER.

This box was found many years ago when a family from North Dakota was contracted to demolish derelict buildings on old Fort Abraham Lincoln. It was found in a boarded up section of a wall along with a number of documents still in possession of that family. Consignor states he purchased this box directly from descendants of the family members who tore down the old buildings. Unusual leather covered trunk that resembles a modern-day tackle box that is 9-1/2″ high by about 9″ wide and 16″ long covered in brown leather with clamshell top that opens evenly to expose two sets of five trays that telescope outward. Trays are made of plated steel and have a hole in each end. Top of the box has three brass snap latches, which are marked “EAGLE LOCK CO / TERRYVILLE, CONN” surrounding “U.S.A.”. Top center has a leather covered handle. One side of the top is inlaid with a 3-5/8″ by 1-5/8″ brass plaque inscribed “LT. EDWARD SETTLE GODFREY / PAYMASTER / FORT LINCOLN”. This plaque is possibly not as old as the box. This is allegedly the paymaster’s box used by Lt. Godfrey to pay the troops of the 7th Cavalry on May 17, 1876, the evening of the day they left Fort Lincoln which trip culminated in the fiasco at Little Big Horn. Commanding Gen. Terry had directed that the troops not be paid before leaving on the campaign to prevent drunkenness, disease and desertion, so after they had traveled about 14 miles they stopped in the afternoon on the Heart River and Lt. Godfrey disbursed the payroll which amounted to more than $24,000. Presumably most of this money was taken by the Indians after the battle when they stripped the bodies of the fallen troopers. The money, along with a large supply of weapons and ammunition was reportedly ultimately placed in the great Sioux cache at a later date and never knowingly recovered. Lt. Godfrey survived Little Big Horn and remained in the Army until forced by age to retire in 1907 as a Brigadier General at age 88. He won the Medal of Honor for gallantry at Bear Paw Mountain, Montana in September 1877 fighting the Nez Perce, served throughout the remainder of the Indian wars and the Spanish-American War. PROVENANCE: Wendall Grangaard Collection. CONDITION: Fair. Both bottom edges of the box show damage and leather loss, otherwise the leather covering is only dried and shows wear with moderate to heavy soil and blue paint splatters; interior is intact and shows use and heavy soil. 4-49318 JR541 (10,000-50,000) – Lot 2263a

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2014

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
	2263a	$0.00	LEATHER COVERED PAYMASTER’S CHEST OF LT. EDWARD S. GODFREY, 7TH CAVALRY PAYMASTER UNDER GEORGE ARMSTRONG CUSTER. This box was found many years ago when a family from North Dakota was contracted to demolish derelict buildings on old Fort Abraham Lincoln. It was found in a boarded up section of a wall along with a number of documents still in possession of that family. Consignor states he purchased this box directly from descendants of the family members who tore down the old buildings. Unusual leather covered trunk that resembles a modern-day tackle box that is 9-1/2″ high by about 9″ wide and 16″ long covered in brown leather with clamshell top that opens evenly to expose two sets of five trays that telescope outward. Trays are made of plated steel and have a hole in each end. Top of the box has three brass snap latches, which are marked “EAGLE LOCK CO / TERRYVILLE, CONN” surrounding “U.S.A.”. Top center has a leather covered handle. One side of the top is inlaid with a 3-5/8″ by 1-5/8″ brass plaque inscribed “LT. EDWARD SETTLE GODFREY / PAYMASTER / FORT LINCOLN”. This plaque is possibly not as old as the box. This is allegedly the paymaster’s box used by Lt. Godfrey to pay the troops of the 7th Cavalry on May 17, 1876, the evening of the day they left Fort Lincoln which trip culminated in the fiasco at Little Big Horn. Commanding Gen. Terry had directed that the troops not be paid before leaving on the campaign to prevent drunkenness, disease and desertion, so after they had traveled about 14 miles they stopped in the afternoon on the Heart River and Lt. Godfrey disbursed the payroll which amounted to more than $24,000. Presumably most of this money was taken by the Indians after the battle when they stripped the bodies of the fallen troopers. The money, along with a large supply of weapons and ammunition was reportedly ultimately placed in the great Sioux cache at a later date and never knowingly recovered. Lt. Godfrey survived Little Big Horn and remained in the Army until forced by age to retire in 1907 as a Brigadier General at age 88. He won the Medal of Honor for gallantry at Bear Paw Mountain, Montana in September 1877 fighting the Nez Perce, served throughout the remainder of the Indian wars and the Spanish-American War. PROVENANCE: Wendall Grangaard Collection. CONDITION: Fair. Both bottom edges of the box show damage and leather loss, otherwise the leather covering is only dried and shows wear with moderate to heavy soil and blue paint splatters; interior is intact and shows use and heavy soil. 4-49318 JR541 (10,000-50,000) – Lot 2263a Auction: Firearms - Spring 2014 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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LEATHER COVERED PAYMASTER’S CHEST OF LT. EDWARD S. GODFREY, 7TH CAVALRY PAYMASTER UNDER GEORGE ARMSTRONG CUSTER.