This Week in Little Bighorn History

Morris Mason Farrar was born on July 30, 1846, in Amesbury, Massachusetts. He was a Private in Company E who participated in the hilltop fight.

James Wilbur Darcy, who was also known as James Wilber, was born on August 2, 1849, in Laurel, Maryland. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights during the battle. He was wounded in his left leg on June 26, 1876.

Jacob Hetler (left) was born in Mansfield, Ohio, on August 2, 1852 (gravestone has 1851). He was a Private in Company D who was wounded during the hilltop fight.

Alexander Downing (right) died on August 2, 1884, in Newton Township, Miami County, Ohio, and was buried in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company F who was not present at the battle due to detached service at Fort Lincoln.

Charles W. Campbell died in Fort Bayard, New Mexico, on August 2, 1906. He was a Private in Company G who was with the pack train and was wounded in his right shoulder during the hilltop fight. According to his descendants, he wanted his remains to be shipped to Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, and placed in a vault. No record of his remains being in Illinois could be found.

William Earl Smith was born on August 3, 1853, in Rouses Point, New York. He was a Private in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight.

James Akers died in Washington, D.C., on August 3, 1881, and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a Corporal in Company G who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Charles Stillman Ilsley (left) was born on August 4, 1836, in Maine. He was a Captain for Company E who was not present at the battle due to detached service at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Thomas Murray died at the Soldiers’ 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 up the pack train and distribute rations 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 at Powder River, Montana. According to The Bismarck Tribune, he later claimed to be “one of the few who escaped the Custer massacre.”

James M. Rooney (left) died on August 5, 1918, in Yankton, South Dakota, and was buried in the State Hospital Cemetery there. He was a Private with Company F who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight. See 7th Cavalry Troopers in South Dakota.

Henry Nicholaus Peter 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 at the Powder River, Montana.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

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 (left) 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 at Powder River, Montana.

Henry W. B. Mechlin (right) 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.

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 during the battle.

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 (left) 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 Alexander Kanipe (right) married Missouri Ann Wycoff Bobo on April 12, 1877. She was the widow of Lemuel Edwin Bobo who was killed in the battle. Kanipe was a Sergeant in Company C who was with Custer’s Column and in the hilltop fight.

Edwin Butler Wight married Alia E. Roberts on April 12, 1906. He was a Private in Company B who was not present at the battle due to detached service at Powder River, Montana.

John McShane died at Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory, on April 13, 1877. He 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 on the steamer Far West.

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

Daniel Alexander Kanipe ( see photo above) was born on April 15, 1853, in Marion, North Carolina. He was a Sergeant in Company C who was with Custer’s Column and in the hilltop fight.

Robert George Rowland died near the Cannonball River, North Dakota, around April 15, 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 at the battle due to detached service at the Powder River Depot.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

Daniel Shea died on July 24, 1882, in Little Rock, Arkansas, and was buried in the Little Rock National Cemetery. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Ernst Meineke died in at the Soldiers’ Home in Washington, D.C., on July 24, 1907, and was buried in the National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company F who was not present due to detached service at Fort Lincoln, caring for the company property and garden.

Richard A. Wallace drowned on July 25, 1876, near the mouth of the Bighorn River in Montana Territory while attempting to cross the river for picket duty. He was eventually interred in the mass grave on Last Stand Hill. He was a Private with Company B who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight during the battle.

Thomas James Stowers (left) died in Baxter, Tennessee, on July 25, 1933, and was buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery near Baxter. He was a Private with Company B who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

Theodore W. Goldin (left) was born on July 25, 1858, in Avon Township, Wisconsin. He was a Private with Company G who participated in the valley and hilltop fights. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during the battle.

August B. Siefert was born in Darmstadt, Germany, on July 26, 1850. He was a Private with Company K who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight during the battle.

Henry Edward Haack died on July 27, 1881, at the Asylum for the Insane in Washington, D.C., and was buried in St. Elizabeth’s Hospital East Cemetery in the Anacostia district of the city. He was a Private with Company H who participated in the hilltop fight.

Aloys Bohner died in Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa, on July 27, 1887, and was buried in Aspen Grove Cemetery in Burlington. He was a Trumpeter with Company D who participated in the hilltop fight.

John J. “Jack” Mahoney (left) died on July 27, 1918, in Sturgis, South Dakota, and was buried in the St. Aloysius Cemetery there. He was a Private with Company C who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

Lansing A. Moore (right) died in Rawlins, Wyoming, on July 27, 1931, and was buried in the Rawlins Cemetery there. He was a Private with Company F who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

William Gibbs was born on July 28, 1845, in Manchester, England. He was a Private with Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

Morris Mason Farrar was born on July 30, 1846, in Amesbury, Massachusetts. He was a Private in Company E who participated in the hilltop fight.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

Charles Clinton Barnett died in Anacortes, Skagit County, Washington, on April 3, 1935, and was buried there in Grand View Cemetery. He was a Private in Company G who was not present at the Battle of the Little Bighorn due to detached service at Powder River, Montana.

William Frank died on April 6, 1880, in Baltimore, Maryland. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight during the battle.

John Curtis Hall died in Warsaw, Indiana, on April 6, 1908, and was buried under the name Peter Curtis Hall in the Oakwood Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight.

Herbert Hezekiah 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 Elizabeth Kittinger on April 7, 1870, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 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.

Phillip Flood died on April 7, 1905, in Washington, D.C. He was a Private in Company G who was not present at the battle because he was in the government hospital for the insane in Washington, D.C.

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 Roscoe Gray was born in Aetna, Maine, on April 8, 1855. He was a Private in Company B who was not present at the battle due to detached service at Powder River, Montana.

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.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

Richard A. Wallace drowned on July 25, 1876, near the mouth of the Bighorn River in Montana Territory while attempting to cross the river for picket duty. He was eventually interred in the mass grave on Last Stand Hill. He was a Private with Company B who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Thomas James Stowers (left) died in Baxter, Tennessee, on July 25, 1933, and was buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery near Baxter. He was a Private with Company B who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

Theodore W. Goldin (right) was born on July 25, 1858, in Avon Township, Wisconsin. He was a Private with Company G who participated in the valley and hilltop fights. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during the battle.

August B. Siefert was born in Darmstadt, Germany, on July 26, 1850. He was a Private with Company K who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight during the battle.

Henry Haack died on July 27, 1881, at the Asylum for the Insane in Washington, D.C., and was buried in St. Elizabeth’s Hospital East Cemetery in the Anacostia district of the city. He was a Private with Company H who participated in the hilltop fight.

Aloys Bohner died in Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa, on July 27, 1887, and was buried in Aspen Grove Cemetery in Burlington. He was a Trumpeter with Company D who participated in the hilltop fight.

John J. “Jack” Mahoney (left) died on July 27, 1918, in Sturgis, South Dakota, and was buried in the St. Aloysius Cemetery there. He was a Private with Company C who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

Lansing A. Moore (right) died in Rawlins, Wyoming, on July 27, 1931, and was buried in the Rawlins Cemetery there. He was a Private with Company F who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

William Gibbs was born on July 28, 1845, in Manchester, England. He was a Private with Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

Morris Mason Farrar was born on July 30, 1846, in Amesbury, Massachusetts. He was a Private in Company E who 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 during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

John Curtis Hall died in Warsaw, Indiana, on April 6, 1908, and was buried under the name Peter Curtis Hall in the Oakwood Cemetery there. 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 Elizabeth Kittinger on April 7, 1870, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 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 Aetna, Maine, on April 8, 1855. He was a Private in Company B who was not present at the battle due to detached service at Powder River, Montana.

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.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

History Mystery: As you can see, there is only one photo this week. If you can provide a photo of any other man listed below, please email it to LBHA@cox.net. Thanks!

August B. Siefert was born in Darmstadt, Germany, on July 26, 1850. He was a Private with Company K who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Henry Haack died on July 27, 1881, at the Asylum for the Insane in Washington, D.C., and was buried in St. Elizabeth’s Hospital East Cemetery in the Anacostia district of the city. He was a Private with Company H who participated in the hilltop fight.

Aloys Bohner died in Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa, on July 27, 1887, and was buried in Aspen Grove Cemetery in Burlington. He was a Trumpeter with Company D who participated in the hilltop fight.

John J. “Jack” Mahoney (left) died on July 27, 1918, in Sturgis, South Dakota, and was buried in the St. Aloysius Cemetery there. He was a Private with Company C who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

Lansing A. Moore died in Rawlins, Wyoming, on July 27, 1931, and was buried in the Rawlins Cemetery there. He was a Private with Company F who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

William Gibbs was born on July 28, 1845, in Manchester, England. He was a Private with Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

Morris Mason Farrar was born on July 30, 1846, in Amesbury, Massachusetts. He was a Private in Company E who 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

William Gibbs was born on July 28, 1845, in Manchester, England. He was a Private with Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

Morris Mason Farrar was born on July 30, 1846, in Amesbury, Massachusetts. He was a Private in Company E who participated in the hilltop fight.

Jacob Hetler (left) was born in Mansfield, Ohio, on August 2, 1852. He was a Private in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight and was wounded.

Alexander Downing died on August 2, 1884, in Pleasant Hill, Miami County, Ohio, and was buried in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company F who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Charles W. Campbell died in Fort Bayard, New Mexico, on August 2, 1906. He was a Private in Company G who was with the pack train and was wounded in the hilltop fight.

William Earl Smith was born on August 3, 1853, on Rouses Point, New York. He was a Private in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight.

James Akers died in Washington, D.C., on August 3, 1881, and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a Corporal in Company G who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

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.