Hi,
I saw your post about Joel G. Custer. General Custer was his cousin.
See the following article about an interesting sword, it mentions Joel, and general custer. My parents have this sword.

http://lbha.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Queries&action...

Joel was my great great great great grandfather. His daughter Sally was my great great great grandmother. She married Preston Abbott, my mother's maiden name is Abbott

Here is the article quoted from the web page

Thanks to Sandy Alexander for bringing this to my attention. Craig County is in Virginia.

General George A. Custer's sword officer's saber was on display when the Craig County Historical Society held an open house to celebrate the opening of The Hunter's Raid Civil War Trail June 1.

The saber is marked U.S. 1863.

According to information gathered from the Historical Society, Custer gave this sword to his cousin, Joel G. Custer, when he visited Joel at his home on Rt. 621 in Craig County. The general was later killed in the Battle of Little Big Horn by the Sioux Indians in 1876.

Joel Custer's daughter, Sally, married Preston Abbott and their son, Bud, received the sword.

Bud Abbott later donated the sword to Masonic Lodge No. 140 in New Castle, of which he was a member. Lodge members loaned the sword to the Historical Society for display.

Also of interest was the old log cabin where Gen. Custer spent three days during his visit to Craig still stands although it has been renovated and an addition added. Descendants of Joel G. Custer still remain in Craig County.