Bighorn Buttons?

Another for the "intriguing mystery" category: we were recently doing a walk through of a client's home prior to an estate sale, discussing characteristics that might make for a better auction. We had decided to leave the place staged largely with his own furniture, including a large frame desk in the main study.

While listening through some drone or other, I was casually tugging at the drawers of this desk, and looking down ran across a yellowed envelope bulging slightly at its center.  Taking it out and opening it, we were surprised to find a small button, with a small slip of paper saying:

"Custer's Button.  Gift of P. Small 1953"

 

I've had confirmation that it is indeed a U.S. Army Cavalry button, of some vintage, but other than that its provenance is a mystery.  Some research has revealed that P. Small could refer to Pauline Small, a prominent Crow tribal leader whose grandfather was known to be a scout for Custer at Little Bighorn.  How could the connection have been made? Unclear, though as a law student at Ann Arbor in the 50's my client had done legal outreach work with tribes in Montana.  Again, we'll never know for sure...

BB