This Week in Little Bighorn History

Joseph Carroll was born in New York, New York, on January 19, 1847. He was a member of the band, so he was not present at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

John E. Hammon (left) died on January 19, 1909, in Sturgis, South Dakota, and was buried there in the Bear Butte Cemetery. He was a Corporal in Company G and was in the hilltop and valley fights.

Henry Harrison Davis was born on January 20, 1846, in Bellvernon, Virginia. He was a Private in Company M who was in the hilltop and valley fights during the battle.

John J. Rafter was born in Lansingburgh, New York, on January 20, 1851. He was a Sergeant with Company K who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight during the battle.

August B. Siefert died on January 20, 1921, in Highland Park, Illinois, and was buried in the Fort Sheridan Cemetery in Highwood, Illinois. He was a Private with Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

Stephen Cowley (left) was married in County Mayo, Ireland, to Bridget Agnes Moore on January 21, 1871. He was a Private in Company D on detached service at Yellowstone Depot, so he was not present at the battle.

Joseph Kneubuhler died on January 21, 1917, in San Diego, California. He was a member of the band, so he was not present at the battle.

Christian C. Boisen died in Fort Smith, Arkansas, on January 21, 1923, and was buried at the National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company K who was in the hilltop fight.

George H. Geiger was a Sergeant in Company H who participated in the hilltop fight. He showed extraordinary bravery when he risked his life to obtain water from the river for the wounded men, an act for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor. He died on January 23, 1904, in Dayton, Ohio, and was buried in the National Cemetery there.

Left Hand, an Arikara Scout, was born in the Dakota Territory in 1829 and died on January 23, 1931. He was buried in the Saint Charles Catholic Cemetery in Saint Francis, South Dakota.

James Garland Sturgis (left) was born on January 24, 1854, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was a Second Lieutenant with Company E who was killed with Custer’s Column. Unlike most officers, he was likely buried in the mass grave on Last Stand Hill.

James McNamara, who was a Private in Company H and participated in the hilltop fight, died in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, on January 24, 1932, and was buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Troy, New York.

Otto Arndt was born on January 25, 1844, in Bavaria, Germany. He was a member of the band who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Edward Garlick, who was a First Sergeant in Company G on furlough during the battle, died in Sturgis, South Dakota, on January 25, 1931, and was buried at the Bear Butte Cemetery there.

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