Description: Brass ring with the initial "E" in Old English script on a black enamel background. This ring was recovered from the Reno Battlefield in 1994 by the Pitsch family who own and farm the largest privately owned portion of the Little Bighorn Battlefield. The ring was found in the river bottom to the south-east of the site of the southern end of the Sioux camp. This area, is where three companies of the 7th Cavalry led by Major Marcus Reno made the initial attack that opened the Battle of Little Bighorn. Confronted by large numbers of Sioux and Cheyenne warriors, Reno dismounted his troops and formed a skirmish line. As the warriors moved around the flanks of the skirmish line Reno re-mounted his troopers and led a retreat across the Little Bighorn River to the bluff on the east side. During the retreat nearly 1/3 of the approximately 125 men in Reno 's command were killed or wounded. Two of the troopers killed near the river were Sergeant Edward Botzer of G Company and Private Elihu Clear. Remains identified as those of Sergeant Botzer were recovered in archeological digs on the battlefield. The "E" initial ring is believed to have belonged to either Sergeant Botzer or Private Clear. This ring was sold with other items recovered from the Little Bighorn battlefield by Christie 's Auction in 1998. The ring is mounted on a Plexiglas base in a glass case and is accompanied by a certificate signed by Jason Pitsch , President of the Reno Battlefield Museum . The certificate describes the ring and states that it was legally collected from the battlefield. Accompanying the certificate is a map which is marked with the location where the ring was recovered. This ring is one of the very few items ever recovered that is associated with a named soldier who fought and died at Little Bighorn. It is a unique relic from one of the most famous of all American battles.  

Condition: Very good. The ring may have been gold plated; the brass has a dull patina. Soil from Little Bighorn remains in protected areas of the ring. Approximately 1/3 of the black enamel remains in the rectangle surrounding the "E". This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to obtain a personal item associated with the Battle of Little Bighorn and one of the few items from the battlefield that can be legally owned and transferred.