This Week in Little Bighorn History

George Walter Yates, left, was born on February 26, 1843, in Albany, New York. He was the Captain of Company F who was killed with Custer’s Column. He was originally buried on the battlefield but was moved to Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery in Kansas in July 1877.

Other Seventh Cavalry milestones this week include:

Andrew J. Moore was born in New Egypt, New Jersey, on February 26, 1854. He was a Private in Company G who fought in the valley and hilltop fights and was killed. He was buried on Last Stand Hill.

Charles Albert Varnum died on February 26, 1936, in San Francisco, California, and was buried in the National Cemetery there. He commanded the scouts during the battle, fought in the valley and hilltop fights, and was wounded.

Joseph K. Ricketts was born on February 27, 1850, near Morrow, Ohio, and he died on February 26, 1909, in Dayton, Ohio. He was a wagoner in Company M, but he was on detached service at Powder River, Montana, during the battle.

Augustus Louis DeVoto was born in Genoa, Italy, on February 27, 1851. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

William M. Caldwell was born on February 27, 1857, in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. He was a Private with Company B who was not present during the battle due to detached service.

Lewis Merrill died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on February 27, 1896. He was an 1855 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, but Major Merrill was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Jacob Hetler died on February 27, 1944, in Greenwich, Ohio, and was buried in the Adario Cemetery in Adario, Ohio. He was a Private with Company D who was wounded in the hilltop fight.

George Washington Wylie was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on February 28, 1848. He was a Corporal in Company D who fought in the hilltop fight.

John O’Neill died on March 2, 1888, in Washington, D.C., and was buried in the U.S. Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

Ludwick St. John was born in Columbia, Missouri, on March 3, 1848. He was a Private in Company C who was killed with Custer’s Column and buried on Last Stand Hill.

Thomas F. McLaughlin died on March 3, 1886, in Jamestown, North Dakota, and was buried in the Jamestown State Hospital Cemetery. He was a Sergeant in Company H who was wounded during the hilltop fight.

Henry Rinaldo Porter, M.D., died at the Hotel Metropole in Agra, India, on March 3, 1903, and was buried in the Cantonment Cemetery there. A memorial monument for Dr. Porter sits next to his wife’s grave in Oberlin, Ohio.

Thomas Henry French was born on March 4, 1843, in Baltimore, Maryland, and he died on March 27, 1882, at Planters House in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He was originally buried in the National Cemetery there but was later moved to Holy Rood Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

John C. Creighton, who was also known as Charles Chesterwood, was born in Massillon, Ohio, on March 4, 1850. He was a Private in Company K who was in the hilltop fight.


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