The First Map Made Of The Custer Battle Site An extraordinary find, the very first map drawn of the site of the massacre of George Armstrong Custer and his entire command by Sioux Indians under the leadership of Sitting Bull, on June 25, 1876 This fme, hand- drawn map was undertaken by Lt. Edward Maguire (d. 1892 , Chief Engineer, Department of the Dakota, just two days after the battle when the relief column of Generals Alfred H. Terry and John Gibbon arrived on the scene. As Terry's Chief Engineer and map-maker for the Dakota Column during 1876, Maguire was immediately called upon to draw a detailed, topographical map of the scene for future study and refinement. Maguire's mapping of the scene is documented in an account of the scene of the battle by Brigadier General Edward J. McClernand, who was relieved of the duty by Maguire under Terry's orders. A second version of this same map was again drawn by Maguire on July 2, 1876, and has heretofore been wrongly considered the first such map. In fact Maguire's final version of the map was used by at the famous Court of Inquiry for Major Marcus Reno in 1879 According to National Park Service Chief Historian Douglas C. McChristian: . I think it is safe to assume he (Maguire] prepared it 'on the ground' immediately after the battle... By comparing the one [historian W. Kent] King labels First Battlefield Map' [Maguire's map of July 2], you will readily see that it has a few refinements not shown on [this] map, thus making [this] map the more primitive. have personally examined this map and am comfortable in saying that I believe it is the earliest one known of the Little Big Horn battlefield. The map is contained within a scrapbook of newspaper clippings concerning events leading up to the massacre, with a detailed report on the battle. It was obtained from the estate of Capt. Edward W. Smith, Terry's adjutant and brother-in-law who was either given the map or liberated it from the files. The map itself is drawn in dark iron-gall ink on an approx. 5.75in x 4. 625in sheet of white architect's linen, similar in method and mater to other sketches of the period. It is drawn on a scale of one inch to one mile, and shows a route marked Benteen's March , Reno's Crossing , Reno's Intrenchment', Little Big Horn R[iverl , Skirmish line and Indian Village In red ink at the upper left is the notation 'Custer fell' map is signed by Maguire Edw. Maguire Lt. Engr. U.S.A. Chief Eng Dept. Dakota . The map is in excellent condition, showing but a light folds with no toning, fading or damage whatsoever. Accompanied by all correspondence concerning the map, biographical data on all officers mentioned, and other pertinent documentation. This is possibly the finest Indian Wars document to be offered on the market in the last decade!