For your consideration in this lot is a very rare tintype photograph of a young Captain Frederick William Benteen, 1834-1898. Benteen was a military officer who first fought during the American Civil War. He was then sent to the west during the Indian Campaigns and Great Sioux War against the Lakota and Northern Cheyenne. Benteen is best known for being in command of a battalion (Companies D, H, & K) of the 7th U. S. Cavalry at the Battle of the Little Bighorn in late June, 1876. Captain Benteen received a note from his superior officer, George Armstrong Custer, ordering him to quickly bring up the ammunition packs and join him in Custer's surprise attack on a large Native American encampment. Benteen's failure to promptly comply with Custer's orders is one of the most controversial aspects of the famed battle, and some believe led to the loss of the battle. Most photographs of Benteen show him as an older white haired man; this photo shows him in his Union Army uniform. This photograph is believed to be a tintype set in a keepsake box of celluloid. A bottom piece of the keepsake box is missing. The box has two hinges on the back and opens and closes like a book. It has high relief decorations on the outside showing a man, flag, and canon. The box and photograph are said to have come from the King Ranch Estate Collection. This item measures 2" X 1 7/8” x 5/8" and is in very good condition, except for the one area of damage noted.