This is Ludlow's principle map that shows the entirety of Custer's reconnaissance of 1874. The map extends from Old Ft. Pierre on the Missouri River to the Little Missouri Buttes and north to the Badlands and the Yellowstone River. In the summer of 1874, Custer took units of his 7th Cavalry and 2nd Infantry Companies on a now famous march from Ft. A. Lincoln into the Black Hills of the Dakotas. On this expedition, gold was discovered. Word of the discovery led to the Black Hills Gold Rush, then to Custer's massacre and eventually to the tragic termination of the Sioux War at Wounded Knee. This map traces Custer's route through the region of the Black Hills with date of encampments. With telling notations throughout leading Wheat to call it a most interesting map: "Where they killed the Rees," "Where the sickman was killed" plus many comments on water, grasslands, springs, etc. The topography is nicely developed with portions of Raynold's 1859 route shown.

References: Wheat (TMW) #1248

Condition: B

Issued folding, now pressed and backed with archival tissue. A little light toning along two folds, else very good.