Tag: Ryan

This Week in Little Bighorn History

Frederick William Benteen (left) was born on August 24, 1834, in Petersburg, Virginia, the son of Theodore Charles and Caroline Hargrove Benteen. He was the Captain of Company H, commanding a battalion, on scouting duty and in the hilltop fight, during which he was wounded.

James Flanagan was born in Innis, County Clare, Ireland, on August 24, 1839. He was a Sergeant in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight.

James Calhoun (left) was born on August 24, 1845, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and married Maggie Custer on March 7, 1872. He was the First Lieutenant of Company C but commanded Company L during the battle. He was killed along with three brothers-in-law (George Custer, Tom Custer, and Boston Custer) and their nephew, Autie Reed.

Luther Rector Hare (right) was born in Noblesville, Indiana, on August 24, 1851, the son of Silas and Octavia Elizabeth Rector Hare. He was an 1874 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and served as the Second Lieutenant of Company K during the battle. He participated in both the valley and hilltop fights.

William August Marshall died on August 24, 1892, in Washington, D.C., and was buried in the Green Lawn Cemetery in Columbus, Ohio. He was a Private in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight.

John Ryan (left) was born in Newton, Massachusetts, on August 25, 1845. He was the First Sergeant for Company M who participated in both the valley and hilltop fights during the battle.

James C. Blair died on August 25, 1918, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and was buried in the Union Dale Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company K who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Charles Camillus DeRudio (right) was born in Belluno Venetia, Austria, on August 26, 1832. He was the First Lieutenant for Company E who participated in both the valley and hilltop fights.

Marion E. Horn was born on August 26, 1853, in Richmond, Indiana. He was a Private in Company I who was killed with Custer’s Column.

James Weeks died on Crow Agency, Montana, on August 26, 1877. He was a Private in Company M who participated in both the valley and hilltop fights.

Robert Jackson was born on August 27, 1856, at Fort Benton, Montana Territory. He was a Scout who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

John E. Armstrong married Martha Hancock on August 27, 1856. He was a Private in Company A who was killed in the valley fight.

John S. Wells died on August 27, 1893, in Bismarck, North Dakota, and was buried in the Fairview Cemetery in Bismarck. He was a Sergeant in Company E who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Walter Scott Sterland died on August 27, 1922, in Bismarck, Burleigh County, North Dakota, and was buried in the Dickinson Cemetery in Dickinson, Stark County, North Dakota. He was a Private in Company M who was not present at the battle due to detached service at Yellowstone Depot.

Darwin E. Symms was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, on August 28, 1851, the son of Richard and Adaliza A. Symms. He was a Private in Company I who was killed with Custer’s Column.

Bad Heart Bull, who was among the first Oglala to fight Reno’s men on their approach to the village, died on August 28, 1913.

John McGlone died on August 28, 1920, in the Barnes Hospital in Washington, D.C., and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a Sergeant with Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

John Mullen died in San Francisco, California, on August 29, 1888, and was buried in the San Francisco National Cemetery at the Presidio. He was a Sergeant with Company L who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

Charles Sanders died on August 29, 1915, in Lincoln, Nebraska. He was a Private in Company D who served as an orderly for Lt. Edgerly during the battle and participated in the hilltop fight.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

William Frank died on April 6, 1880, in Baltimore, Maryland. His burial location has yet to be discovered. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

John Curtis Hall died in Warsaw, Indiana, on April 6, 1908. He was a Private in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight.

Herbert H. Arnold died on April 6, 1929, in Meriden, Connecticut, and was buried there in Walnut Grove Cemetery. He was a Private in Company C who was not present at the battle due to detached service at Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory.

Charles Ackerman died at Fort Snelling Minnesota, on April 6, 1930. He was buried in the Forest Cemetery, which is now Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Maplewood, Ramsey County, Minnesota. He was a Private in Company K who was not present at the battle due to detached service at the Powder River Depot.

William H. Gilbert (left) married Mary E. Hevener on April 7, 1870, and they had a son named Rudy who was born in 1874. William was a Corporal in Company L who died with Custer’s Column and was buried on Last Stand Hill.

Alexander Brown (right) died on April 7, 1884, at Fort Meade, Dakota Territory, and was buried in the National Cemetery there. He was a Sergeant in Company G who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

William Alexander was born on April 8, 1838, in Armagh, Ireland. He was a packer with the Quartermaster who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

John R. Gray was born in Troy, New York, on April 8, 1855. He was a Private in Company B who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Stephen L. Ryan died on April 8, 1885, in Bismarck, Dakota Territory, and was buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

James Harrison Smith (left) was born on April 9, 1848, in Madison, Indiana. He was a Private in Company G and one of three James Smiths in the Seventh Cavalry at the time. He was the only one of the three who was not present at the battle because he enlisted in the Seventh on June 20 and was en route to join his comrades. The other two who shared his name were killed with Custer’s Column and are buried on Last Stand Hill.

Morris Mason Farrar died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on April 9, 1899, and was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Yeadon, Pennsylvania. He was a Private in Company E who participated in the hilltop fight.

William Gavin Capes (right) died on April 10, 1900, in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and was buried in the Allegheny Cemetery there. He was a Sergeant in Company M who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Henry W. B. Mechlin (left) died on April 10, 1926, in Washington, D.C., and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home Cemetery there. He was a blacksmith in Company H who participated in the hilltop fight. He was later awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions there.

Robert Rowland died near the Cannonball River, North Dakota, around April 11, 1879, of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound in his head and was buried in the Keokuk National Cemetery in Keokuk, Lee County, Iowa. He was a Private in Company G who was not present due to detached service at the Powder River Depot.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

Dennis Lynch (left) died on October 13, 1933, in Washington, D.C., and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company F who was not present at the Battle of the Little Bighorn due to detached service.

Henry W. B. Mechlin (right) was born in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, on October 14, 1851. He was a blacksmith for Company H who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the hilltop fight.

George Weaver (left) died on October 14, 1886, at Fort Meade, Dakota Territory, and was buried in the National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

John Ryan (right) died in West Newton, Massachusetts, on October 14, 1926, and was buried in the Calvary Cemetery and Mausoleum in Waltham, Massachusetts. He was the First Sergeant for Company M who was in the valley and hilltop fights.

William James Bailey (left) died on October 14, 1933, in St. Cloud, Florida, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. He was a Scout who was on the steamer Far West, so he was not present at the battle. He was also known as William Baker.

 Benjamin Beck was born on October 15, 1852, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a Private in the Band, so he did not go on the campaign to the Little Bighorn.

Thomas Wellesley Causby (right) died on October 16, 1906, in Davenport, Iowa, and was buried in the Oakdale Memorial Gardens there. He was a Sergeant with the Quartermaster but was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Ernest Albert Garlington

Ernest Albert Garlington (left) died in Coronado, California, on October 16, 1934, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. He was a Second Lieutenant in Company H who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Fremont Kipp (right) was born on October 17, 1856, in Noble Hill, Noble County, Ohio. He was a Private in Company D who was in the hilltop fight.

Benjamin C. Criswell (left) died on October 17, 1921, in Eldorado, Jackson County, Oklahoma, and was buried in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Gould, Harmon County, Oklahoma. He was a Sergeant with Company B who rode with the pack train and was wounded during the hilltop fight. He was awarded the Medal of Honor on October 5, 1878, for his actions during that fight.

Anton Seibelder died at the U. S. Soldiers’ Home in Washington, D.C., on October 18, 1913, and was buried in the National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company A who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Michael Reagan, who was also known as John Desmond, was born on October 19, 1834, in Queenstown, Cobb County, Ireland. He was a Private in Company K who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Samuel Frederick Staples was born on October 19, 1849, in East Douglas, Massachusetts. He was a Corporal in Company I who was killed with Custer’s Column.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

John Ryan (left) was born in Newton, Massachusetts, on August 25, 1845. He was the First Sergeant for Company M who participated in both the valley and hilltop fights during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

James C. Blair died on August 25, 1918, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and was buried in the Union Dale Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company K who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Charles Camillus DeRudio (right) was born in Belluno Venetia, Austria, on August 26, 1832. He was the First Lieutenant for Company E who participated in both the valley and hilltop fights.

Marion E. Horn was born on August 26, 1853, in Richmond, Indiana. He was a Private in Company I who was killed with Custer’s Column.

James Weeks died on Crow Agency, Montana, on August 26, 1877. He was a Private in Company M who participated in both the valley and hilltop fights.

Robert Jackson was born on August 27, 1856, at Fort Benton, Montana Territory. He was a Scout who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

John E. Armstrong married Martha Hancock on August 27, 1856. He was a Private in Company A who was killed in the valley fight.

John S. Wells died on August 27, 1893, in Bismarck, North Dakota, and was buried in the Fairview Cemetery in Bismarck. He was a Sergeant in Company E who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Walter Scott Sterland died on August 27, 1922, in Bismarck, Burleigh County, North Dakota, and was buried in the Dickinson Cemetery in Dickinson, Stark County, North Dakota. He was a Private in Company M who was not present at the battle due to detached service at Yellowstone Depot.

Darwin E. Symms was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, on August 28, 1851. He was a Private in Company I who was killed with Custer’s Column.

Bad Heart Bull, who was among the first Oglala to fight Reno’s men on their approach to the village, died on August 28, 1913.

John McGlone died on August 28, 1920, in the Barnes Hospital in Washington, D.C., and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a Sergeant with Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

John Mullen died in San Francisco, California, on August 29, 1888, and was buried in the San Francisco National Cemetery at the Presidio. He was a Sergeant with Company L who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

Charles Sanders died on August 29, 1915, in Lincoln, Nebraska. He was a Private in Company D who served as an orderly for Lt. Edgerly during the battle and participated in the hilltop fight.

John Sivertsen (left) died in Washington, D.C., on August 30, 1925, and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Samuel B. Severs was born on August 31, 1854, in St. Louis, Missouri. He was a Private in Company H who was wounded during the hilltop fight.

Little Sioux died in North Dakota on August 31, 1933, and is believed to have been buried in Saint Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in Twin Buttes, North Dakota. He was a Scout who was with Reno’s Column during the valley fight.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

William H. Gilbert married Mary E. Hevener on April 7, 1870, and they had a son named Rudy. William was a Corporal in Company L who died with Custer’s Column and was buried on Last Stand Hill.

Alexander Brown (left) died on April 7, 1884, at Fort Meade, Dakota Territory, and was buried in the National Cemetery there. He was a Sergeant in Company G who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

William Alexander was born on April 8, 1838, in Armagh, Ireland. He was a packer with the Quartermaster who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

John R. Gray was born in Troy, New York, on April 8, 1855. He was a Private in Company B who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Stephen L. Ryan died on April 8, 1885, in Bismarck, Dakota Territory, and was buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

James Harrison Smith (left) was born on April 9, 1848, in Madison, Indiana. He was a Private in Company G and one of three James Smiths in the Seventh Cavalry at the time. He was the only one of the three who was not present at the battle because he enlisted in the Seventh on June 20 and was enroute to join his comrades. The other two who shared his name were killed with Custer’s Column and are buried on Last Stand Hill.

Morris Mason Farrar died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on April 9, 1899, and was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Yeadon, Pennsylvania. He was a Private in Company E who participated in the hilltop fight.

William Gavin Capes died on April 10, 1900, in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and was buried in the Allegheny Cemetery there. He was a Sergeant in Company M who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Henry W. B. Mechlin (left) died on April 10, 1926, in Washington, D.C., and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home Cemetery there. He was a blacksmith in Company H who participated in the hilltop fight. He was later awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions there.

Robert Rowland died near the Cannonball River, North Dakota, around April 11, 1879, of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound in his head and was buried in the Keokuk National Cemetery in Keokuk, Lee County, Iowa. He was a Private in Company G who was not present due to detached service at the Powder River Depot.

William E. Robinson was born on April 12, 1842, in County Down, Ireland. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Andrew Knecht was born on April 12, 1853, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was a Private in Company F who was killed with Custer’s Column.

Henry M. Brinkerhoff was born in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on April 12, 1854. He was a Private in Company G who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Daniel Kanipe married Missouri Ann Wycoff Bobo, the widow of L. Edwin Bobo who was killed in the battle, on April 12, 1877.

John McShane died at Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory, on April 13, 1877, and was originally buried in the Post Cemetery there and later reinterred in the Custer National Cemetery in Montana. He was a Private in Company I who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

Joseph H. Green died on April 13, 1922, in Washington, D.C., and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

Henry W. B. Mechlin (left) was born in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, on October 14, 1851. He was a blacksmith for Company H who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the hilltop fight.

George Weaver (right) died on October 14, 1886, at Fort Meade, Dakota Territory, and was buried in the National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

John Ryan died in West Newton, Massachusetts, on October 14, 1926, and was buried in the Calvary Cemetery and Mausoleum in Waltham, Massachusetts. He was the First Sergeant for Company M who was in the valley and hilltop fights.

William James Bailey (left) died on October 14, 1933, in St. Cloud, Florida, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. He was a Scout who was on the steamer Far West, so he was not present at the battle. He was also known as William Baker.

Benjamin Beck was born on October 15, 1852, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a Private in the Band, so he did not go on the campaign to the Little Bighorn.

Ernest Albert GarlingtonErnest Albert Garlington (left) died in Coronado, California, on October 16, 1934, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. He was a Second Lieutenant in Company H who was not present at the Battle of the Little Bighorn due to detached service.

Benjamin C. Criswell died on October 17, 1921, in Eldorado, Jackson County, Oklahoma, and was buried in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Gould, Harmon County, Oklahoma. He was a Sergeant with Company B who rode with the pack train and was wounded during the hilltop fight. He was awarded the Medal of Honor on October 5, 1878, for his actions during that fight.

Anton Seibelder died at the U. S. Soldiers’ Home in Washington, D.C., on October 18, 1913, and was buried in the National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company A who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Michael Reagan, who was also known as John Desmond, was born on October 19, 1834, in Queenstown, Cobb County, Ireland. He was a Private in Company K who was not present at the battle due to detached service.


This Week in Little Bighorn History

Thomas Sherborne died on August 19, 1910, in Washington, D.C. He also was a Private in the band, which did not accompany the cavalry to the Little Bighorn.

Black Elk (left) died on August 19, 1950, on the Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota, and was buried in the St. Agnes Catholic Cemetery in Manderson. He was a member of Big Road’s Band and claimed two scalps during the Reno fight.

William L. Crawford died on August 20, 1876, of typhoid fever at Fort Abraham Lincoln in the Dakota Territory. He was originally buried in the Post Cemetery there and was later interred in the Custer National Cemetery on Crow Agency, Big Horn County, Montana. He was a Private in Company K who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Elwyn S. Reid died of heart failure at Fort D. A. Russell in Wyoming on August 20, 1895, and was buried there in what is now the Francis E. Warren Air Base Cemetery in Cheyenne, Laramie County, Wyoming. He was a Private in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight.

Frederick William Benteen (left) was born on August 24, 1834, in Petersburg, Virginia, the son of Theodore Charles and Caroline Hargrove Benteen. He was the Captain of Company H, commanding a battalion, on scouting duty and in the hilltop fight, during which he was wounded.

James Flanagan was born in Innis, County Clare, Ireland, on August 24, 1839. He was a Sergeant in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight.

James Calhoun (right) was born on August 24, 1845, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and married Maggie Custer on March 7, 1872. He was the First Lieutenant of Company C but commanded Company L during the battle. He was killed along with three brothers-in-law (George Custer, Tom Custer, and Boston Custer) and their nephew, Autie Reed.

Luther Rector Hare (left) was born in Noblesville, Indiana, on August 24, 1851, the son of Silas and Octavia Elizabeth Rector Hare. He was an 1874 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and served as the Second Lieutenant of Company K during the battle. He participated in both the valley and hilltop fights.

William August Marshall died on August 24, 1892, in Washington, D.C., and was buried in the Green Lawn Cemetery in Columbus, Ohio. He was a Private in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight.

John Ryan (right) was born in Newton, Massachusetts, on August 25, 1845. He was the First Sergeant for Company M who participated in both the valley and hilltop fights.

James C. Blair died on August 25, 1918, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was a Private in Company K who was not present at the battle due to detached service. (Note: Men with Custer states his death date as April 25, 1918, with a burial and reinterment in the Pittsburgh area. A photograph of his gravestone has been requested in hopes it will resolve the issue.)


Little Bighorn Timeline: The Afternoon of June 25, 1876

Based on John S. Gray’s tables in Custer’s Last Campaign: Mitch Boyer and the Little Bighorn Reconstructed unless noted otherwise. Several people commented on this timeline when it was originally published on LittleBighorn.info; those comments are in italics.

June 25, 1876

PM 

Noon: Command passed the Crow’s Nest and crossed the Divide. There is substantial testimony that the time for this event was significantly earlier.

12:05: Command at Halt 3; General George Custer assigned the battalions. This is 2nd Lieutenant George Wallace‘s Halt 2, about 1/2 mile west of the divide. Captain Thomas McDougall (left) [in Reno Court of Inquiry: Proceedings of a Court of Inquiry in the Case of Major Marcus A. Reno (RCOI)] stated, “On June 25th, about 11 o’clock a.m., I reported to General Custer for orders. He told me to take charge of the pack train and act as rear guard.” If Wallace’s watch (itinerary) was set to Headquarters St. Paul time — and 1st Lieutenant Edward Settles Godfrey said definitely that “Our watches were not changed (RCOI)” — Wallace’s 12:05 is approximately = 10:45 local time, within 15 minutes of McDougall’s recalled 11:00. Cf. Friedman, recalled time is accurate within one hour excluding the possibility of chance in Memory & Cognition 15.6 (1987): 518-20. 

12:12: Custer-Reno battalions left the divide halt to descend to Reno Creek. Captain Frederick Benteen‘s battalion left the divide halt on an off-trail scout to the left. It is unlikely that all three columns actually set off at precisely the same time but the impact is only a few minutes. 

12:32: The pack train left the divide halt on Custer’s trail. 

1:20: Benteen’s battalion arrived at upper No-Name Creek and turned down it. On a high ridge ahead, 1st Lieutenant Francis Gibson (left) found the Little Bighorn valley empty. Many years later Lt. Gibson expressed doubt that he had actually viewed the correct valley (see interview with Camp).

2:00: Custer-Reno battalions passed No-Name Creek. Reno was called to the right bank.  Sergeant Daniel Kanipe and 1st Sergeant John Ryan, as well as Reno, say Reno was called to the right bank near the Lone Tepee. This subtracts a mile from Gray’s itinerary. 

2:15: Custer-Reno battalions passed the lone tepee. Custer’s battalion left down the right bank of Reno Creek. The scouts reported Sioux in the Little Bighorn Valley. Custer ordered Reno to lead out at a trot. 

2:17: Boston Custer trots ahead of the pack train to overtake Custer. 

2:32: Benteen’s battalion arrived at Reno Creek, 1/4 mile above the mouth of No-Name Creek. They saw the pack train 3/4 mile above. Boston Custer joins them. Benteen (The Custer Myth, p. 180) recalled being at the morass at 1:00 p.m., Godfrey thought 2:00. Assuming Hutchins/Knipe are right about the location of the morass, it is near the mouth of the South Fork. 

2:37: Benteen’s battalion reached the morass to water the horses. Boston Custer trotted on. 

2:43: Custer’s battalion trotted to the flat right behind Reno. The scouts reported the Sioux were alarming the village. Reno was ordered to charge taking Adjutant William W. Cooke (left). Custer sent two scouts to the bluff who joined Reno. 

2:45: Boston Custer passed the lone tepee. 

2:47: At the North Fork, Reno’s battalion crossed to the left bank of Reno Creek.

2:51: Custer’s battalion made a fast walk to the North Fork and halted to water. 

2:53: Reno’s battalion crossed to the left bank of the Little Bighorn River at Ford A where it halted to water the horses and reform. The troops and the scouts saw the Sioux attacking.

2:55: Cooke left to report to Custer. 

2:57: Benteen’s battalion departed the morass as the packtrain arrived. The packtrain halted to water and close up. 

3:01: Cooke reported the Sioux were attacking Reno. Custer’s battalion started down the right bank of the Little Bighorn River, leaving the north fork of Reno Creek. 

3:03: Reno’s battalion left Ford A and started its charge down the left bank of the Little Bighorn River. If Reno crossed Reno Creek near the Lone tepee at 2:00 according to Wallace’s watch, he was about 3-3.5 miles from Ford A. The column proceeded at a trot or “slow gallop” for 15 minutes, again according to Wallace. This would cover about 2 miles at 7.5-8 mph. Wallace said Reno was ordered to attack about 2:15. He took the gallop and covered the remaining mile to the river in about 5 minutes (gallop 9-11 mph in Upton, 1 mile in 6 minutes according to Cooke), and crossed at Ford A at 2:20 in Wallace’s recollection. Using Anders’/Graham’s 1 hour 20 minute difference between local time and official Headquarters time, then Reno crossed Ford A near 1:00, consistent with recollections of Interpreter Frederick Girard, Acting Assistant Surgeon Henry Porter, Kanipe, and Taylor. Gray added 43 minutes and at least two miles between Reno’s crossing of the creek and fording the Little Bighorn.

3:05: Reno’s battalion saw Custer or the scouts on the right bank bluff. 

3:10: Pony captors leave the Reno charge to capture Sioux herd. 2nd Lieutenant Luther Hare (left) (Custer in ’76, p. 65) said he and the Rees rode down the valley while Reno was watering the horses (i.e., crossing river?) and the Rees took off from him about a mile down river. Private William Jackson (William Jackson, William Jackson, Indian Scout: His True Story Told by His Friend,, p.135) said scouts rode out ahead of Reno and turned straight down valley. 

3:12: Benteen’s battalion walked past the lone tepee. 

3:13: Reno’s battalion saw Custer’s battalion at Reno Hill. Custer’s battalion saw Reno charge the village. 

3:15: Sgt. Daniel Kanipe left for Capt. Frederick Benteen and the pack train.

3:17: The pack train left the morass. 

3:18: Reno’s battalion halted and formed a skirmish line. They saw Custer’s battalion on the bluffs, disappearing. Custer’s battalion passed Sharpshooter Ridge and entered Cedar Coulee. Reno’s attack/formation of skirmish line occurred about midday, probably 1:00 pm. 

3:20: Little Sioux (Ree), Strikes Two (Ree), Red Star (Ree), Boy Chief (Ree), One Feather (Ree), Bull Stands in Water (Ree), and Whole Buffalo (Sioux) diverged from Reno’s charge and drove captured Sioux ponies up the bluff. They were joined there by seven stragglers who lagged behind on Custer’s trail and never crossed the Little Bighorn: Soldier (Ree), Stabbed (Ree), Bull (Ree), White Eagle (Ree), Red Wolf (Ree), Strikes the Lodge (Ree), and Charging Bull (Ree). If they left the column at 3:10 (above), how could they diverge from Reno’s charge at 3:20? 

3:23: Custer’s battalion arrived at the bend of Cedar Coulee and halted. 

3:24: Custer, his officers, Guide Mitch Bouyer (left) and Curley left the bend on a side trip to Weir Peak. 

3:26: Three Crows left the halted command at the bend of Cedar Coulee (off-trail). Goes Ahead (The Teepee Book, 2.6, June 1916, p.604) says scouts were told to make their escape at the trenches of the Reno-Benteen site. 

3:28: Custer’s party arrived at Weir Peak and saw the village and Reno skirmishing. 

3:28.5: The three Crows halted on the bluff above Weir Peak. 

3:30: 1st Lieutenant Charles DeRudio (left) saw Custer’s party at Weir Point. Custer’s party saw the concealed route to Ford B and the village. Not possible to identify individual and/or clothing on Weir from valley position. Who DeRedio saw remains open to question. 

3:31: Custer and officers left Weir Peak to return to the command. The Arikara were fired on by the last of Custer’s column as it was disappearing over Weir (on the eastern edge), crossed Kanipe’s route, encountered stragglers left behind Custer’s column. Custer in ’76, 180-1; Arikara Narrative of Custer’s Campaign and the Battle of the Little Bighorn, 115-6. 

3:32: The pack train passed the lone tepee. 

3:32.5: Boston Custer passed Reno Hill. The Reno fight would have been visible for the next five minutes. 

3:33: Reno withdrew the battalion into the timber. The three Crows saw Reno’s skirmish, fired at the Sioux, and left. 

3:34: Custer returned to the halt at the bend from Weir Peak. Trumpeter John Martin (left) left Custer’s battalion at the bend of Cedar Coulee for Benteen. Custer started down Cedar Coulee. 

3:36: Pony captors overtook and passed Sergeant Kanipe. 

3:38: John Martin met Boston Custer at the head of Cedar Coulee. 

3:39: The three Crows halted, had a drink in the Little Bighorn River, and captured five ponies. 

3:40: John Martin saw Reno’s battalion fighting in the timber. 

3:40:5: Benteen’s battalion met the Rees driving the Sioux ponies. 

3:42: Sergeant Daniel Kanipe met Benteen’s battalion with a verbal message from Custer. 

3:45: Little Sioux (Ree), Strikes Two (Ree), Red Star (Ree), Boy Chief (Ree), One Feather (Ree), Bull Stands in Water (Ree), Whole Buffalo (Sioux), Soldier (Ree), Stabbed (Ree), Bull (Ree), White Eagle (Ree), Red Wolf (Ree), Strikes the Lodge (Ree), and Charging Bull (Ree) drove the herd of Sioux ponies back to the packtrain and halted. Pretty Face (Ree) was with the packs until this time. 

3:46.5: Custer’s battalion halted at the mouth of Cedar Coulee. 

3:48: The pack train met Kanipe who had Custer’s message. 

3:49: Boston Custer overtakes Custer’s battalion at the mouth of Cedar Coulee with news. The three Crows continued upriver. 

3:52: Black Fox (Ree) (left) was at the bluffs and joined the three Crows who were given a Sioux pony. 

3:53: Reno ‘s battalion began its retreat upstream. Girard (RCOI) puts this about 2:00. His watch, giving timing of sunrise near 4:00 a.m. local time and full dark at 9:00 p.m., reflects local time fairly closely. Additionally, Girard’s watch times closely match the captured Rosebud watch timing the entire fight from skirmish line to the surround on Reno Hill from 1-4. It is, per Hardorff, extremely unlikely that Crook, who was headquartered in Omaha, would have set his command watches to San Francisco time. Headquarters is where the general is, and the general had been in the field (Douglas, Wyoming, approximates headquarters) for more than a year. Headquarters time is what the general says it is–why set watches an hour and a half off daybreak, noon? 

3:55: Rees switched to fresh Sioux ponies and started back to Reno. Custer’s battalion saw signals by Mitch Boyer and Curley on Weir Ridge. 

3:56.5: Custer’s battalion started down Medicine Tail Coulee. 

3:58: Benteen’s battalion met Trumpeter John Martin at the flat where they heard firing. The three Crows passed Reno Hill and saw Reno’s retreat. 

4:00: Reno’s battalion retreats across the Little Bighorn River. Bobtail Bull (Ree) and Little Brave (Ree) (left) had been killed on the east bank by this time. 

4:02: Benteen’s battalion took Custer’s trail at the North Fork. 

4:04: Custer’s battalion halted in Medicine Tail Coulee where Boyer and Curley joined them. 

4:04:5: The packtrain was overtaken by the Rees who were returning to Reno Hill. 

4:05: Young Hawk’s party was trapped on the east bank bottom by the Sioux and fought. Scout George Herendeen‘s party scrambled back to the timber from the retreat. 

4:06: Benteen’s battalion saw Reno’s retreat at the knoll and halted. 

4:08: Captain George Yates‘ battalion (Companies F and E, off-trail) left the separation halt down Medicine Tail Coulee. Custer’s battalion (Companies C, I, and L) left the separation halt north out of Medicine Tail Coulee. 

4:10: Benteen’s battalion met three Crows and one Ree and left the halt. Reno’s battalion climbed the bluffs obliquely to Reno Hill. Private William Baker (1/2 Ree), Private William Cross (Ree, 1/2 Sioux), Red Bear (Ree horse herder), White Cloud (Sioux rear guard), Ma-tok-sha (Sioux), and Caroo (Sioux) arrived at Reno Hill. Red Bear and White Cloud left to join the pony captors. Herendeen’s party met 12 troopers who had been left in the timber. 

4:15: Red Bear and White Cloud met three Crows and Black Fox and halted to await the return of the Crows. 

4:16: Custer’s battalion arrived on Luce Ridge and halted on the defensive position. 

4:18: Yates’ battalion arrived at Ford B. Light firing over the Little Bighorn began. Custer’s battalion saw and heard the firing. 

4:20: Benteen’s battalion reached Reno Hill and joined Reno’s battalion. Three Crows and Black Fox arrived. The three Crows left to go downstream, passing Reno Hill, to find Reno’s two Crows. Custer’s battalion saw the Sioux coming up Medicine Tail Coulee to attack. (MF, I think the Gray time of 4.20 for Benteen on Reno Hill is completely wrong and the time to be used is either 2:30 p.m. as per the Official Army Report or 3:45 p.m., which was Wallace’s headquarters time estimate based on his testimony at RCOI which he miscalculated as being 4:00 p.m. Gray’s understanding of the time of events by this stage is so wrong that it is not really possible to comment further. There is no primary source evidence to support Gray’s 4:20 p.m. for this meeting.) 

4:23: Yates’ battalion crossed Deep Coulee and arrived on the cutbank unopposed. Custer’s battalion saw Yates start up the west rim of Deep Coulee. 

4:25: Red Bear and White Cloud left for Reno Hill when the Crows failed to return. Custer’s battalion pinned down the Sioux with heaving firing. Young Hawk‘s party and Herendeen’s party heard heavy Custer firing downstream. Reno left in search of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin Hodgson‘s body.

4:27: The pack train halted at the flat to close up. 1st Lieutenant Edward Mathey sighted smoke. Custer’s battalion left Luce Ridge to meet Yates downstream. 

4:30: Black Fox arrived at Reno Hill. Red Bear and White Cloud arrived for the second time. Young Hawk’s party and Herendeen’s party saw the Sioux leave the upper valley. The three Crows arrived at Sharpshooter Hill and heard Custer’s battalion firing. 

4:32: Little Sioux, Strikes Two, Red Star, Boy Chief, One Feather, Bull Stands in Water, Whole Buffalo, Soldier, Stabbed, Bull, White Eagle, Red Wolf, Strikes the Lodge, Charging Bull, and Pretty Face returned to Reno Hill with the ponies from the lone tepee and were greeted by Red Bear and White Cloud. Custer’s battalion arrived at Nye-Cartwright Ridge. 

4:33: Yates’ battalion ascended the west rim of Deep Coulee. The Sioux attacked its flanks. 

4:38: Custer’s battalion fired at the Sioux on their left flank while negotiating a crossing of upper Deep Coulee. 

4:40: Three Crows arrived at Reno Hill, reporting to Red Star that two Crows were killed.

4:45: Young Hawk’s party left for Reno Hill. Three Crows left for their home village. 

4:46: Yates’ battalion fought on foot to the reunion point. Custer’s battalion joined Yates. 

4:47: The packtrain left the flat and saw the troops on Reno Hill. 

4:50: Reno returned from his search for Hodgson and talked with 2nd Lieutenant Charles Varnum. Curley left Custer’s battalion for the mouth of the Bighorn. 

4:52: Reno dispatches 2nd Lieutenant Luther Hare to speed up the ammunition mules. 

4:55: The sound of Custer’s volleys prompted Captain Thomas B. Weir (left) to ask to move downstream. 

4:57: The packtrain was at the North Fork and took Custer’s trail.

To be continued. . . .

This Week in Little Bighorn History

William Alexander was born on April 8, 1838, in Armagh, Ireland. He was a packer with the Quartermaster who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

John R. Gray was born in Troy, New York, on April 8, 1855 and died on April 30, 1915, in Worcester, Massachusetts. He was a Private in Company B who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Stephen L. Ryan died on April 8, 1885, in Bismarck, Dakota Territory, and was buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

James Harrison Smith (left) was born on April 9, 1848, in Madison, Indiana. He was a Private in Company G and one of three James Smiths in the Seventh Cavalry at the time. He was the only one of the three who was not present at the battle because he enlisted in the Seventh on June 20 and was enroute to join his comrades. The other two who shared his name were killed with Custer’s Column and are buried on Last Stand Hill.

Morris Mason Farrar died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on April 9, 1899, and was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Yeadon, Pennsylvania. He was a Private in Company E who participated in the hilltop fight.

William Gavin Capes (right) died on April 10, 1900, in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and was buried in the Allegheny Cemetery there. He was a Sergeant in Company M who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Henry W. B. Mechlin (left) died on April 10, 1926, in Washington, D.C., and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home Cemetery there. He was a blacksmith in Company H who participated in the hilltop fight. He was later awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions there.

Robert Rowland died near the Cannonball River, North Dakota, around April 11, 1879, of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound in his head and was buried in the Keokuk National Cemetery in Keokuk, Lee County, Iowa. He was a Private in Company G who was not present due to detached service at the Powder River Depot.

William E. Robinson was born on April 12, 1842, in County Down, Ireland. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Henry M. Brinkerhoff was born in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on April 12, 1854. He was a Private in Company G who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Daniel Kanipe married Missouri Ann Wycoff Bobo, the widow of L. Edwin Bobo who was killed in the battle, on April 12, 1877.

John McShane died at Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory, on April 13, 1877, and was originally buried in the Post Cemetery there and later reinterred in the Custer National Cemetery in Montana. He was a Private in Company I who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

Joseph H. Green died on April 13, 1922, in Washington, D.C., and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight.

Patrick Carey was born on April 14, 1828, in Tipperary, Ireland. He was a Sergeant in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

John Dolan (left), who was also known as Thomas Brown, was born in Dublin, Ireland, on April 14, 1843. He was a Private in Company M who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

John W. Sweeney died in Kentucky on April 14, 1884. He was a Private in Company F who participated in the hilltop fight.

 


This Week in Little Bighorn History

John G. Tritten was born on October 8, 1846, in Canton Rune, Switzerland. He was a Sergeant on the staff of the Seventh Cavalry who was not present at the Battle of the Little Bighorn due to detached service.

Stanton Hook died in Denver, Colorado, on October 8, 1898, and was buried in the Fairmont Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company A who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Edward Settle Godfrey (left) was born on October 9, 1843, in Kalida, Ohio. He was a First Lieutenant in command of Company K during scouting and the hilltop fight.

Henry Bishley was born in Chicago, Illinois, on October 9, 1846. He was a Private in Company H who was wounded during the hilltop fight.

Adam Wetzel was born on October 9, 1846, in St. Louis, Missouri. He was a Corporal with Company B who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

Hairy Moccasin (right) died in Lodge Grass, Big Horn County, Montana, on October 9, 1922, and was buried in Saint Ann’s Cemetery there two days later. He was a scout who rode with Custer’s Column and participated in the hilltop fight.

Frank Berwald died on October 9, 1936, in Highland Falls, New York, and was buried in the Sacred Heart Cemetery there. He was a Private with Company E who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

George Anson Merritt was born in Stonington, Connecticut, on October 10, 1840. He was a Private in the band that stayed behind, so he was not in the battle.

Algernon Emory Smith married Nettie B. Bower on October 10, 1867. He was a First Lieutenant in command of Company E who was killed with Custer’s Column.

Harry McBratney died on October 12, 1892, near Mandan, North Dakota. He was a Packer with the pack train who participated in the hilltop fight.

Henry W. B. Mechlin was born in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, on October 14, 1851. He was a blacksmith for Company H who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the hilltop fight.

George Weaver died on October 14, 1886, at Fort Meade, Dakota Territory, and was buried in the National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

John Ryan (left) died in West Newton, Massachusetts, on October 14, 1926, and was burned in the Calvary Cemetery and Mausoleum in Waltham, Massachusetts. He was the First Sergeant for Company M who was in the valley and hilltop fights.

William James Bailey (right) died on October 14, 1933, in St. Cloud, Florida, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. He was a Scout who was on the steamer Far West, so he was not present at the battle. He was also known as William Baker.