This Week in Little Bighorn History

James Flanagan died in Mandan, North Dakota, on April 21, 1921, and was buried in the Mandan Union Cemetery. He was a Sergeant in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight.

Edmund H. Burke died on April 21, 1925 in Sumner, Bremer County, Iowa, and was buried in the Mount Calvary Cemetery there. He was a blacksmith for Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

Charles A. Crandall died on April 23, 1885, in New York City and was buried in the Brookdale Cemetery in Brookdale, Pennsylvania. He was a Corporal with Company C who was not present at the Battle of the Little Bighorn because he was on detached service.

William James Bailey (left), who was also known as William Baker, was born in Alexandria, Virginia, on April 24, 1850. He was a Private and served as a scout. He was not present at the battle because he was on the steamer Far West. [Photograph courtesy of Sherian Grant Kennedy.]

George Anson Merritt (right) died on April 24, 1918, in Chicago, Illinois, and was buried in the Elmwood Cemetery and Mausoleum in River Grove, Cook County, Illinois. He was a Private with the Band and, therefore, was not at the battle.

Wilber F. Blair died in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on April 25, 1918, and was buried at the Lewisburg Cemetery in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. He was a Private with Company A who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Jasper Marshall was born on April 26, 1852, in Spring Valley, Ohio. He was a Private with Company L who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

James P. McNally died in St. Paul, Minnesota, on April 26, 1893, and was buried in Calvary Cemetery in St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota. He was a Private with Company I who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

William O’Mann died on April 26, 1901, in Fargo, North Dakota. He was a Private with Company D who participated in the hilltop fight.

Benjamin Franklin Burdick was born on April 27, 1851, in Grafton, Rensselaer County, New York. He was a Private with Company A who was not present at the battle because he was on detached service.

Henry Armstrong “Autie” Reed (left) was born in Monroe, Michigan, on April 27, 1858. He was a civilian who was hired to accompany the Seventh on the campaign. He was the son of Lydia Custer Reed, the sister of George, Tom, and Boston Custer.

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