This Week in Little Bighorn History

Charles Stillman Ilsley was born on August 4, 1836, in Maine. He was a Captain for Company E who was not present at the Battle of the Little Bighorn due to detached service.

Thomas Murray died at the Soldiersā€™ Home in Washington, D.C., on August 4, 1888, and was buried in the National Cemetery there. He was a Sergeant with Company B who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight where he was wounded. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his efforts to bring water to the wounded during the battle.

Gabriel Guessbacher died on August 4, 1916, in Warwick, North Dakota, and was buried there in the Warwick Cemetery. He was a Private in Company I who was not present at the battle due to detached service, but he later claimed to be a survivor.

James M. Rooney (right) died on August 5, 1918, in Yankton, South Dakota, and was buried in the State Hospital Cemetery there.Ā He was a Private with Company F who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

Henry N. B. Witt died in Santa Monica, California, on August 5, 1929. He was a Private for Company K who was not present due to detached service.

Cornelius CowleyĀ died on August 6, 1908, in Washington, D.C., at the Government Hospital for the Insane (now St. Elizabeth’s Hospital) and may be buried in an unmarked grave in its cemetery. He was a Private in Company A who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Daniel MahoneyĀ died at Barnes Hospital in Washington, D.C., on August 7, 1885, and was buried in the Soldiersā€™ Home National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Joseph H. Green was born on August 8, 1849, in Leitrim, Ireland. He was a Private in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight.

Edmund H. Burke was born in Manchester, England, on August 10, 1842. He was a Blacksmith for Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

Edward DavernĀ died on August 10, 1896, in Washington, D.C., and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in nearby Virginia. He was a Private in Company F who served as an orderly for Major Reno. He participated in the valley and hilltop fights where he was wounded.

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