George Armstrong Custer’s buckskin coat at the Smithsonian
is one of the most evocative artifacts tied to the frontier cavalry legend. The
double‑breasted coat, made of light buckskin and trimmed with fringe, was worn
during his service as lieutenant colonel of the 7th U.S. Cavalry in the
Dakotas. Custer favored frontier dress, believing it suited the rugged
conditions of the West. In 1912, his widow Elizabeth “Libbie” Custer donated
the coat to the Smithsonian, preserving it as a tribute to her husband’s dramatic
life and legacy. Today, it remains a striking reminder of Custer’s persona and
the era he helped define.
The Lone Ranger is a fictional masked Texas Ranger who first appeared on radio in 1933. His origin story
describes him as the sole survivor of an ambushed Ranger posse, rescued and
aided by his companion Tonto. A posse of six members of the Texas Rangers, led by Captain Dan Reid, pursue a band of outlaws. Tonto discovers one of the rangers, Captain Reid's younger brother John, barely alive, and nurses the man to health.
Thoughentirely fictional, historians have proposed real-life inspirations. Texas Ranger John R.Hughes is often cited due to his long career and legendary tracking skills. Another proposed inspiration is Bass Reeves, a U.S. Marshal whose exploits closely resemble the Ranger’s, though this connection remains debated.
Bass Reeves wasn’t just a lawman — he was a legend. Born
into slavery in Arkansas in 1838, he escaped during the Civil War and mastered
Native languages and tracking skills in Indian Territory.
From
1875 to 1907, Reeves served as a deputy U.S. marshal under Judge Isaac Parker,
making over 3,000 arrests and
killing 14 outlaws in self‑defense.
His
integrity was absolute — he even arrested his own son when duty demanded it.
Bass
Reeves wasn’t officially documented as the inspiration for the Lone Ranger —
but his life matches the legend so closely that the connection remains compelling and widely believed.
Explore the Old West:
Dive deeper into Bass Reeves, frontier justice, and the legends of the American West with these hand‑picked books and collectibles. Affiliate links help support the blog at no extra cost.
Mary and Robert E. Lee lived in
Arlington House until 1861 when Virginia seceded from the Union and Lee went
south to join the Confederate army. Union troops moved into an subsequently
took possession of the estate which became a national cemetery.
Neither
Robert E. Lee nor his wife ever set foot in Arlington House again. After the
death of his parents, George Washington Custis Lee claimed that the house and land had been illegally
confiscated and that, according to his grandfather's will, he was the legal
owner.
In December 1882, the U.S.
Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision, returned the property to George Washington Custis
Lee, stating that it had been confiscated without due process.
Would the dead have to be
transferred to a new site? General Lee's
son diffused the crisis by selling the house and land to the government for
its’ fair market value.
A
definitive, deeply researched history of Arlington National Cemetery. This book
guides readers from the estate’s Civil War origins to its role as America’s
most sacred military burial ground. Perfect for anyone wanting the full story
behind the land, the legends, and the legacy.
A
powerful exploration of the cemetery’s lesser‑known African American history.
This book uncovers the stories of Freedman’s Village and Section 27, offering
essential context for readers interested in Arlington’s hidden past and the
lives of formerly enslaved people who lived there.
Arlington National
Cemetery: A Guided Tour Through History A
concise, visitor‑friendly guide that blends narrative history with practical
touring insights. Ideal for readers planning a visit or wanting a structured
overview of Arlington’s evolution from plantation to national shrine.
A
rich photographic history capturing Arlington’s transformation across decades.
This visual collection is perfect for readers who want to see the
cemetery’s past through archival images and rare historical photographs.
A
broad, accessible overview of Arlington’s founding, Civil War roots, and
national significance. Excellent for general readers seeking a clear, engaging
introduction to the cemetery’s place in American memory.
Bernardo de
Gálvez the Spanish governor of Louisiana and commander of Spanish forces in
North America is the best-known Hispanic of the American Revolution.When Spain joined the fight against England, Galvez
captured Baton Rouge, Natchez, Mobile, and Pensacola, opening a second front
against Britain and supplying the Continental Army with weapons, ammunition,
medicine, and funding. Congress later granted him honorary U.S. citizenship.
George Armstrong Custer’s life is
usually told in the language of cavalry charges, velvet jackets, cinnamon‑scented
curls, and the tragedy of the Little Bighorn. But tucked inside the historical
record is a surprisingly earthy thread: Custer’s relationship with onions.
Far from a mere dietary preference,
onions were a staple that Custer devoured with enthusiasm.
Onions were not always easy to come by
on the Western plains in the 1870s, but when they were available, Custer
treated them like a delicacy.
His wife, Elizabeth “Libbie” Custer,
documented this habit vividly in her memoir Boots and Saddles. She
recounted how, during expeditions, Custer would eagerly consume raw onions,
noting their scarcity and value on the frontier — “as rare out there, and more
appreciated than pomegranates are in New York.”
In an 1873 letter to Libbie while on
the Yellowstone River expedition, Custer wrote with glee: “I supped on RAW
ONIONS; I will probably breakfast, lunch and dine on them tomorrow, and the
next day, and the day after.”
He and his younger brother Tom Custer,
who also perished at Little Bighorn, were both enthusiastic onion lovers.
Libbie herself was less enamored with
the results. The strong odor of raw onions on her husband’s breath became a
running theme in their correspondence and her writings.
Theodore Roosevelt sponsored and participated
in boxing inside the White House, and he did it enthusiastically.
Roosevelt
regularly sparred with aides and visiting fighters during his presidency,
treating boxing as part of his “strenuous life” philosophy. He boxed in the
White House itself, including a 1905 match in which he was struck hard enough
to lose sight in his left eye,
an injury kept secret for years.
Teddy
Roosevelt outfitted the White House basement with training mats and continued
boxing, wrestling, and practicing judo with anyone willing to take him on —
aides, athletes, even family members.
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