Boyle – Little Bighorn History

This Week in Little Bighorn History

Robert Jackson was born on August 27, 1856, at Fort Benton, Montana Territory. He was a Piegan Blackfoot Indian scout who was not present at the battle because he was discharged from service on June 25, 1876, at Fort Lincoln. For more about Robert Jackson and his younger brother and fellow scout William Jackson, see the Louis Riel Institute.

John E. Armstrong was a Private in Company A who was killed in the valley fight. He married Martha Hancock on August 27, 1856, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They divorced, and his wife remarried in 1872. Armstrong’s father was awarded his pension in 1880.

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 being on furlough, attending the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After the battle, he used the name James Blanchard.

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 Elnathan Fisher 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. He is listed on the mass grave monument on Last Stand Hill, and there is a cenotaph in his honor at Burr Oak Cemetery in Burr Oak, Iowa.

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, and is said to have been buried in the Wyuka Cemetery there. 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 Berryhill 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 (left) died in North Dakota on August 31, 1933, and, according to his headstone application, he was originally buried the Fort Berthold Cemetery in Nishu, North Dakota. A marker for him is in the Indian Scout Cemetery, in McLean County, North Dakota, so he may have been reinterred there. He was a Scout who was with Reno’s Column during the valley fight.

Thomas James Finnegan [gravestone has Finegan] was born on September 2, 1850, in Hillsboro, Ohio. He was a Private in Company M who was not present at the battle due to detached service with the wagon train at Powder River, Montana.

Jacob Deihle died in Washington, D.C., on September 2, 1885, and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a Sergeant with Company L who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight, during which he received a gunshot wound in his left cheek, causing him to lose four teeth.

James P. Boyle died on September 2, 1920, in Bismarck, North Dakota, and was buried there on September 4 in St. Mary’s Cemetery. He was a Private in Company G who participated in the valley and hilltop fights, where he was wounded in his back.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

Myles Moylan (left) died on December 11, 1909, in San Diego, California, and was buried in Greenwood Memorial Park in San Diego. He was a Captain who commanded Company A during the valley and hilltop fights. He was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1894 for his actions at Bear Paw Mountain in 1877.

William Van Wyck Reily (left) was born on December 12, 1853, in Washington D.C. He was a Second Lieutenant in Company F who was killed during the battle on June 25, 1876.

David Ackison was reported to have disappeared on December 12, 1890. It was assumed he fell in a river near Linton, North Dakota, and drowned. He was a Private in Company E who was not present at the battle because he was sick with consumption on the steamer Far West.

John Godfried Tritten (left) died in Dayton, Ohio, on December 12, 1918, and was buried in the Springlawn Cemetery in New Paris, Ohio. He was Saddler Sergeant on detached service at Powder River, Montana, during the battle.

Frederick Deetline (right) died on December 13, 1910, in San Antonio, Texas, and was buried in the National Cemetery there. He was the Blacksmith for Company D who was in the hilltop fight. He was awarded the Medal of Honor in October 1878 for his actions during the battle, and he received the appropriate MOH headstone 100 years later.

Francis Marion Gibson (left) was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on December 14, 1847. He was a First Lieutenant in Company H who performed scouting duty and participated in the hilltop fight. He survived the battle, but his brother-in-law, Donald McIntosh (right) did not.

Henry Holden served as a Private in Company D and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the hilltop fight. He died on December 14, 1905, in East Brighton, England, and was buried in the Brighton and Preston Cemetery there.

James P. Boyle was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, on December 15, 1855. He was a Private in Company G who participated in the valley and hilltop fights during the battle and was wounded in his back.

Matthew Maroney died on December 15, 1880, in Washington, D.C., and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a Sergeant in Company H who participated in the hilltop fight.

Felix Villiet Vinatieri (left), the Chief Musician of the Seventh Cavalry, died in Yankton, South Dakota, on December 15, 1891, and was buried in the Yankton City Cemetery. The band was not present at the battle.

William Friedrich Braendle died in Santa Rosa, California, on December 15, 1932, and was buried in the San Francisco National Cemetery. He was a Private in Company F who was on detached service at Power River, Montana, during the battle. His obituary claimed he was a last survivor of the battle by being on courier duty, but that was not the case.

John McKenna, who was also known as John Kenney, drowned in the Ohio River before December 16, 1888, when his body was found near Constance, Kentucky. He was a Private with Company E who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

American Horse (left)) died on December 16, 1908, in South Dakota, and was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery at Pine Ridge, South Dakota. He was an Oglala who fought against Reno and Custer during the battle.

Edward D. Pigford (right) died in Lock Three, Pennsylvania, on December 16, 1932, and was buried in the Richland Cemetery in Dravosburg, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. He was a Private with Company M who fought in the valley and hilltop fights and was wounded.

Myles Moylan (see December 11 entry) was born on December 17, 1838, in Amesbury, Massachusetts. He was the Captain of Company A and was in command of the company during the valley and hilltop fights.

George Loyd, who participated in the valley and hilltop fights, died in Fort Riley, Kansas, on December 17, 1892, and is buried in the Post Cemetery. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at Wounded Knee.

George B. Penwell (right) died on December 17, 1905, at Barnes Hospital in Washington, D.C., and was buried at the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was the Trumpeter for Company K and participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

John Schwerer died at the National Soldiers Home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on December 17, 1913, and was buried at the Wood National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

James O’Neill died on December 17, 1931, in Sawtelle, California, and was buried in the Los Angeles National Cemetery. He was a Private in Company B who was not present at the battle due to illness.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

Darwin Elnathan Fisher 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 during the Battle of the Little Bighorn. He is listed on the mass grave monument on Last Stand Hill, and there is a cenotaph in his honor at Burr Oak Cemetery in Burr Oak, Iowa.

Samuel Berryhill 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.

Hugh Neal Moore died on September 3, 1900, in Washington, D.C., 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.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

William Van Wyck Reily (left) was born on December 12, 1853, in Washington D.C. He was a Second Lieutenant in Company F who was killed during the Battle of the Little Bighorn on June 25, 1876.

John Godfried Tritten died in Dayton, Ohio, on December 12, 1918, and was buried in the Springlawn Cemetery in New Paris, Ohio. He was Saddler Sergeant on detached service at Powder River, Montana, during the battle.

Frederick Deetline (left) died on December 13, 1910, in San Antonio, Texas, and was buried in the National Cemetery there. He was the Blacksmith for Company D who was in the hilltop fight. He was awarded the Medal of Honor in October 1878 for his actions during the battle, and he received the appropriate MOH headstone 100 years later.

James P. Boyle was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, on December 15, 1855. He was a Private in Company G who participated in the valley and hilltop fights during the battle and was wounded in his back.

Matthew Maroney died on December 15, 1880, in Washington, D.C., and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a Sergeant in Company H who participated in the hilltop fight.

Myles Moylan (left) was born on December 17, 1838, in Amesbury, Massachusetts. He was the Captain of Company A and was in command of the company during the valley and hilltop fights. He later was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at Bear Paw Mountain.

George B. Penwell (left) died on December 17, 1905, at Barnes Hospital in Washington, D.C., and was buried at the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was the Trumpeter for Company K and participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

John Schwerer died at the National Soldiers Home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on December 17, 1913, and was buried at the Wood National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

James O’Neill died on December 17, 1931, in Sawtelle, California, and was buried in the Los Angeles National Cemetery. He was a Private in Company B who was not present at the battle due to illness.

James C. Blair (left) was born in Camden, New Jersey, on December 18, 1850. He was a Private in Company K who was on detached service at Fort Abraham Lincoln during the battle, charged with tending the company’s property and garden.

Michael P. Madden died in California, Missouri, on December 18, 1883, and was buried in the California City Cemetery there. He was the Saddler for Company K who was wounded during the hilltop fight while getting water for the wounded, but he was not awarded a Medal of Honor for his actions. Dr. Henry Porter (right) amputated his leg in the field.

William Henry Davenport died on December 18, 1904, in Missoula, Montana, and was buried at the Missoula Cemetery. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

Charles Sanders died on August 29, 1915, in Lincoln, Nebraska, and is said to have been buried in the Wyuka Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company D who served as an orderly for Lt. Edgerly during the battle and participated in the hilltop fight.

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 (left) died in North Dakota on August 31, 1933, and, according to his headstone application, he was originally buried the Fort Berthold Cemetery in Nishu, North Dakota. A marker for him is in the Indian Scout Cemetery, in McLean County, North Dakota, so he may have been reinterred there. He was a Scout who was with Reno’s Column during the valley fight.

Thomas James Finnegan [gravestone has Finegan] was born on September 2, 1850, in Hillsboro, Ohio. He was a Private in Company M who was not present at the battle due to detached service with the wagon train at Powder River, Montana.

Jacob Deihle died in Washington, D.C., on September 2, 1885, and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a Sergeant with Company L who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight, during which he received a gunshot wound in his left cheek, causing him to lose four teeth.

Hugh N. Moore died on September 3, 1900, in Washington, D.C., 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.

Donald McIntosh (left) was born in Quebec, Canada, on September 4, 1838. He was the First Lieutenant in command of Company G during the battle and was killed during the valley fight.

Francis M. Reeves died on September 4, 1902, in Washington, D.C. He was a Private in Company A who was wounded twice in the retreat from the valley fight.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

Frederick Deetline (left) died on December 13, 1910, in San Antonio, Texas, and was buried in the National Cemetery there. He was the Blacksmith for Company D who was in the hilltop fight. He was awarded the Medal of Honor in October 1878 for his actions during the Battle of the Little Bighorn, and he received the appropriate MOH headstone 100 years later.

James P. Boyle was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, on December 15, 1855. He was a Private in Company G who participated in the valley and hilltop fights during the battle and was wounded in his back.

Matthew Maroney died on December 15, 1880, in Washington, D.C., and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a Sergeant in Company H who participated in the hilltop fight.

John Donahoe died on December 15, 1905, in San Francisco, California, and was buried in the National Cemetery there. He was the Saddler for Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

William Friedrich Braendle died in Santa Rosa, California, on December 15, 1932, and was buried in the San Francisco National Cemetery. He was a First Lieutenant with Company L who was not present at the battle due to illness.

John Schwerer died at the National Soldiers Home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on December 17, 1913, and was buried at the Wood National Cemetery. He was a Private in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

James C. Blair was born in Camden, New Jersey, on December 18, 1850. He was a Private in Company K who was on detached service at Fort Abraham Lincoln during the battle, charged with tending the company’s property and garden.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

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.

Thomas James Finnegan was born on September 1, 1850, in Hillsboro, Ohio. He was a Private in Company M who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Donald McIntosh (left) was born in Quebec, Canada, on September 4, 1838. He was the First Lieutenant in command of Company G during the battle and was killed during the valley fight.

Francis M. Reeves died on September 4, 1902, in Washington, D.C. He was a Private in Company A who was wounded twice in the retreat from the valley fight.

Charles Ackerman was born in Baden, Germany, on September 5, 1848. He was a Private in Company K who was not present at the battle due to detached service at the Powder River Depot.

Samuel B. Severs died on September 5, 1919, in Dorado, Arkansas, and was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in El Dorado, Arkansas. He was a Private in Company H who was wounded in the hilltop fight.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

James P. Boyle was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, on December 15, 1855. He was a Private in Company G who participated in the valley and hilltop fights during the Battle of the Little Bighorn. He was wounded in his back.

Matthew Maroney died on December 15, 1880, in Washington, D.C., and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a Sergeant in Company H who participated in the hilltop fight.

Felix Villiet Vinatieri, the Chief Musician of the Seventh Cavalry, died in Yankton, South Dakota, on December 15, 1891, and was buried in the Yankton City Cemetery. The band was not present at the battle.

American Horse (Oglala) died on December 16, 1908, in South Dakota, and was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery at Pine Ridge, South Dakota. He fought against Reno and Custer during the battle.

Edward D. Pigford (left) died in Lock Three, Pennsylvania, on December 16, 1932, and was buried in the Richland Cemetery in Dravosburg, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. He was a Private with Company M who fought in the valley and hilltop fights and was wounded.

Myles Moylan (right) was born on December 17, 1838, in Amesbury, Massachusetts. He was the Captain of Company A and was in command of the company during the valley and hilltop fights. He later was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at Bear Paw Mountain.

James O’Neill died on December 17, 1931, in Sawtelle, California, and was buried in the Los Angeles National Cemetery. He was a Private in Company B who was not present at the Battle of the Little Bighorn due to illness.

James C. Blair was born in Camden, New Jersey, on December 18, 1850. He was a Private in Company K who was on detached service during the battle.

William G. Hardy (left) was born on December 20, 1849, on Staten Island, New York. He was a bugler for Company A and fought in both the valley and hilltop fights.

Hiram Wallace Sager died in Spokane, Washington, on December 21, 1907, and was buried at Greenwood Memorial Terrace there. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

Thomas Gordon (left) died on December 21, 1935, in Chelsea, Massachusetts, and was buried in the Swandale Cemetery in Mendon, Massachusetts. He was a Private in Copany K who participated in the hilltop fight.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

Thomas James Finnegan was born on September 1, 1850, in Hillsboro, Ohio. He was a Private in Company M who was not present at the Battle of the Little Bighorn due to detached service.

Donald McIntosh (left) was born in Quebec, Canada, on September 4, 1838. He was the First Lieutenant in command of Company G during the Battle of the Little Bighorn and was killed during the valley fight.

Francis M. Reeves died on September 4, 1902, in Washington, D.C. He was a Private in Company A who was wounded twice in the retreat from the valley fight.

Charles Ackerman was born in Baden, Germany, on September 5, 1848. He was a Private in Company K who was not present at the battle due to detached service at the Powder River Depot.

Samuel B. Severs died on September 5, 1919, in El Dorado, Arkansas, and was buried in the Woodlawn Cemete ry there. He was a Private in Company H who was wounded in the hilltop fight.

William M. Shields died at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, on September 6, 1887, and was buried in the Post Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company E who was wounded in the hilltop fight.

John A. Bailey married Margaret Katherine Johnson (1840-1919) on September 6, 1894. They had a daughter named Florence in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1899. He was a Saddler with Company B who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

John Samuel Ragsdale was born in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, on December 9, 1850. He was a Private in Company A who was not present at the Battle of the Little Bighorn due to detached service.

Charles A. Windolph (left) was born on December 9, 1851, in Bergen, Germany. He was a Private in Company H who was wounded in the hilltop fight, and he was awarded the Purple Heart and the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle.

Thomas Gordon (right) was born in Boston on December 9, 1853. He was a Private in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

Thomas Bell (Benton) Weir died on Governors Island, New York, on December 9, 1876, less than six months after the battle. He was the Captain of Company D who participated in scouting and in the hilltop fight. He was originally buried on Governors Island but was moved to the Cypress Hills National Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.

Martin Kilfoyle died on December 9, 1894, in Washington, D.C. He was a Private in Company G who was on detached service during the battle.

Henry Jackson died in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, on December 9, 1908, and is buried in the National Cemetery there. He was a First Lieutenant in Company F who was not at the battle due to detached service.

John Sivertsen (left) was born on December 10, 1841, in Jensen, Norway. He was a Private in Company M who fought in the valley and hilltop fights. He married Anna Olson in Douglas County, Wisconsin, on December 25, 1889.

Henry N. B. Witt was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on December 10, 1852. He was a Private in Company K on detached service during the battle.

William J. Gregg (right) died on December 10, 1913, in Hampton, Virginia, and is buried in the National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company F who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

Frederick Henry Gehrmann died on December 10, 1922, in Washington, D.C., and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. He was a Private in Company B who was on detached service during the battle.

William Van Wyck Reily (left) was born on December 12, 1853, in Washington D.C. He was a Second Lieutenant in Company F who was killed during the battle on June 25, 1876, and was buried on August 3, 1877, in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

John Godfried Tritten died in Dayton, Ohio, on December 12, 1918. He was Saddler Sergeant on detached service during the battle.

Francis Marion Gibson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on December 14, 1847. He was a First Lieutenant in Company H who performed scouting duty and participated in the hilltop fight. He survived the battle, but his brother-in-law, Donald McIntosh, did not.

James P. Boyle was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, on December 15, 1855. He was a Private in Company G who participated in the valley and hilltop fights. He was wounded in his back.

Matthew Maroney died on December 15, 1880, in Washington, D.C., and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a Sergeant in Company H who participated in the hilltop fight.

William Braendle died in Santa Rosa, California, on December 15, 1932, and was buried in the San Francisco National Cemetery. He was a First Lieutenant with Company L who was not present at the battle due to illness.