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Post by Diane Merkel on Jan 30, 2005 11:46:27 GMT -6
One of our members would like to purchase the following, IF it exists:
Pocket Watch, that plays "Garry Owen," with a place for a photo inside, plus the following engraved on the back:
"To Gen. Custer from the Michigan Brigade, Lest We Forget" (from They Died with Their Boots On).
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Post by John Bourdage on Jan 31, 2005 16:03:25 GMT -6
The watch from the movie was in the Gene Autry museum in L.A. when I saw it there back in 1991 or 92.
Might want to contact them to see if it could be up for sale!
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Post by GAC on Apr 27, 2005 5:44:23 GMT -6
The original watch owned by Custer, upon which the one in 'They Died With Their Boots On' was based, was formerly held in the Mr & Mrs Don C. Foote collection at Billings, Montana.
The watch was given to Custer by the Michigan Brigade, and he carried it at Little Bighorn. J. K. Ralson's famous iconic painting of the aftermath, 'After the Battle', shows a Sioux woman listening to Custer's watch, which she has removed from his body lying slumped at her feet. The watch was apparently recovered from the Sioux some time later, eventually finding its way into the Foote collection.
I have a photograph of the watch from the tour catalogue of the Foote collection's 'Treasures of the West' exhibition, which I saw in Melbourne, Australia, in 1972. The rear of the gold case has an applied gilt badge consisting of the Michigan state arms, above crossed cavalry sabers. The casing is engraved as follows: 'To General Custer From the Michigan Brigade "Ride You Wolverines" '.
The Foote collection was broken up and sold (many of the items from the collection turned up in the Butterfield & Butterfield sale of Custer memorabilia of April 4 1995 at San Francisco). According to Evan S. Connel, in 'Son of the Morning Star', the present whereabouts of Custer's watch are unknown.
Ciao,
GAC
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Gary
Junior Member
Posts: 81
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Post by Gary on Apr 6, 2006 18:34:15 GMT -6
One of our members would like to purchase the following, IF it exists:Pocket Watch, that plays "Garry Owen," with a place for a photo inside, plus the following engraved on the back: "To Gen. Custer from the Michigan Brigade, Lest We Forget" (from They Died with Their Boots On). |
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Gary
Junior Member
Posts: 81
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Post by Gary on Apr 6, 2006 18:37:49 GMT -6
I just saw the posting back in January 2005 about the Custer pocketwatch being in the Gene Autry Museum. It was made for the Errol Flynn movie "They Died With Their Boots On". It is, the one that the Foote family had!
There are at least 3 other watches in existence with the same inscription. All but the one I have, have been proven to be "Not Authentic".
I have spent many year's now trying to document my watch and have not been able to find any record of a watch being presented to Custer. If you know of any documentation I would much appreciate the information!!! There is documentation that a Canadian Mountie (Cecil Denny) collected the pocketwatch from Sitting Bull and sent it to Libbie, I think in 1877 or 78.
My watch has several minute engravings on the inside that tell the history of Custer and the swords are shown inverted,,,, as Custer and Sheridan both preferred. Because they were Calvary, fighting from horseback they thought it more proper to show swords as having the tip pointed down.
Looking forward to any replies!
Thanks
Gary Wolfe
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