This Week in Little Bighorn History

Owen Hale (left)a descendant of American patriot Nathan Hale, was born on July 23, 1843, in Troy, New York. He was a Captain in Company K who was not present at the battle due to detached service at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri.

 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.

Ernst Meineke died in Columbia, Virginia, on July 24, 1907, and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. 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 (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 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. See also 7th Cavalry Troopers in South Dakota.

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.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

Hiram Wallace Sager was born on November 27, 1850, in Westport, New York. 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.

The Battle on the Washita was on November 27, 1868.

Morris Hedding Thompson (left) died on November 27, 1911, in Cloverdale, California, and was buried in the Cloverdale Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company E who was not present at the battle. Like Martin Personeus, he was a cook who was on detached service at Fort Abraham Lincoln, charged with tending the company garden.

George B. Herendeen (left) was born on November 28, 1846, in Parkman Township, Geauga County, Ohio. He was a civilian scout who participated in the battle in the timber and on the hilltop. According to Gregory Michno, Herendeen was largely responsible for assertions of Marcus Reno‘s cowardice:

Of all the witnesses called [at the Reno Court of Inquiry], only two were critical of Reno’s conduct in the valley. Civilian interpreter Frederic F. Girard, whom Reno had once fired, said he thought Reno could have held out in the timber as long as the ammunition lasted. (Left unsaid was that at the rate they had been firing, that would not likely have been more than another half-hour.) Civilian scout George Herendeen also disliked Reno. He said that when Bloody Knife was killed and another soldier hit, “Reno gave the order to dismount, and the soldiers had just struck the ground when he gave the order to mount, and then everything left the timber on a run.” Herendeen said the incident “demoralized him [Reno] a good deal,” but when pressed by court recorder Lieutenant Jesse M. Lee, Herendeen stated, “I am not saying that he is a coward at all.”

. . . An examination of the court record shows that 20 of the 23 eyewitnesses who testified to Reno’s conduct had neutral or favorable observations. Only three were unfavorable—and none of those damning. Yet scarcely mentioned is [Dr. Henry] Porter’s account of Reno’s statement, “We have got to get out of here—we have got to charge them!” Instead, Herendeen’s claim that Reno ordered a dismount and an immediate mount appears often in print. It seems incredible. One man claims Reno issued conflicting orders while extracting his command from a desperate situation, and it snowballs into an avalanche of cowardice and treachery.

Misrepresented ‘Monster’ Major Marcus Reno” by Gregory Michno

John R. Steinker committed suicide by poisoning on November 28, 1876, at Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory, and was originally buried in the cemetery there. He was later reinterred at Custer National Cemetery on the Crow Agency, Montana. He was a Farrier with Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

Henry Petring (left) was born in Germany on November 29, 1853. He was a Private in Company G who participated in the valley and hilltop fights, during which he was wounded in an eye and hip.

James Ballard Pym was murdered on November 29, 1893, in Miles City, Montana, and was buried in the Custer County Cemetery in Miles City. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight where he was wounded in the right ankle. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle.

John Noonan committed suicide on November 30, 1878, at Fort Abraham Lincoln in the Dakota Territory and was originally buried in the cemetery there. He was later reinterred at Custer National Cemetery on the Crow Agency, Montana. He was a Corporal in Company L who was not present at the battle due to detached service at Powder River, Montana, where he was charged with guarding the cattle herd.

Thomas W. Coleman died in Sawtelle, California, on November 30, 1921, and was buried in the Los Angeles National Cemetery. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

William G. Abrams was born on December 1, 1840, in Baltimore, Maryland. He was a Private in Company L who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight during the battle.

Henry Edward Haack was born in York County, Pennsylvania, on December 3, 1838. He was a Private in Company H who participated in the hilltop fight.

William H. Baker was born on December 3, 1848, in Golconda, Illinois. He was a Private in Company E who was killed with Custer’s Column during the battle.

Thomas James Stowers, (left) who claimed to be a Sole Survivor of the battle, was born on December 3, 1848, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

Frank Berwald (right) was born on December 3, 1852, in Posen, Poland. He was a Private in Company E who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

Frank Volkenstine, who was also known as Frank Bowers, died on December 3, 1919, in Detroit, Michigan. He was a Private in Company M who was not present at the battle because he had been dishonorably discharged on May 31, 1876, in Fort Wayne, Michigan.

John Francis Donohue (left in 1921) died in Butte, Montana, on December 3, 1924, and was buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery in that city. He was a Private in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight during the battle.

Peter Thompson (right) died on December 3, 1928, in Hot Springs, South Dakota, and was buried in the Masonic Section of West Cemetery, in Lead, South Dakota. He was a Private in Company C who was wounded in the hilltop fight. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle.

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

George B. Herendeen (left) was born on November 28, 1846, in Parkman Township, Geauga County, Ohio. He was a civilian scout who participated in the timber and hilltop fights during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

John R. Steinker committed suicide by poisoning on November 28, 1876, at Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory, and was originally buried in the cemetery there. He was later reinterred at Custer National Cemetery on the Crow Agency, Montana. He was a Farrier with Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

Henry Petring (left) was born in Germany on November 29, 1853. He was a Private in Company G who participated in the valley and hilltop fights, during which he was wounded in an eye and hip.

James Pym was murdered on November 29, 1893, in Miles City, Montana, and was buried in the Custer County Cemetery in Miles City. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight where he was wounded in the right ankle. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle.

John Noonan committed suicide on November 30, 1878, at Fort Abraham Lincoln in the Dakota Territory and was originally buried in the cemetery there. He was later reinterred at Custer National Cemetery on the Crow Agency, Montana. He was a Corporal in Company L who was not present at the battle due to detached service at Powder River, Montana, where he was charged with guarding the cattle herd.

Thomas W. Coleman died in Sawtelle, California, on November 30, 1921, and was buried in the Los Angeles National Cemetery. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

William G. Abrams was born on December 1, 1840, in Baltimore, Maryland. He was a Private in Company L who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight during the battle.

William H. Baker was born on December 3, 1848, in Golconda, Illinois. He was a Private in Company E who was killed with Custer’s Column during the battle.

Thomas James Stowers, (left) who claimed to be a Sole Survivor of the battle, was born on December 3, 1848, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

Frank Berwald (right) was born on December 3, 1852, in Posen, Poland. He was a Private in Company E who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

Frank Volkenstine, who was also known as Frank Bowers, died on December 3, 1919, in Detroit, Michigan. He was a Private in Company M who was not present at the battle because he had been dishonorably discharged on May 31, 1876, in Fort Wayne, Michigan.

John Francis Donohue (left in 1921) died in Butte, Montana, on December 3, 1924, and was buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery in that city. He was a Private in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight during the battle.

Peter Thompson (right) died on December 3, 1928, in Hot Springs, South Dakota, and was buried in the Masonic Section of West Cemetery, in Lead, South Dakota. He was a Private in Company C who was wounded in the hilltop fight. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle.

John E. Hammon (left) was born in Lynchburg, Ohio, on December 4, 1857. He was a Corporal in Company G who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

John McCabe died on December 4, 1891, in Washington, D.C. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

John B. Ascough died in Columbus, Ohio, on December 4, 1903, and was buried in Old Greencastle Cemetery in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio. He was a Private in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight.

George Arthur Rudolph died on December 4, 1924, in Eddyville, New York, and was buried in Saint Peters Cemetery in Rosendale, Ulster County, New York. He was a Private in the Band, so he was on detached service at Powder River, Montana.

Charles Henry Bishop died in East St. Louis, Illinois, on December 4, 1929, and was buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Fairview Heights, St. Clair County, Illinois. He was a Private in Company H who was wounded during the hilltop fight.

John Samuel Ragsdale died on December 4, 1942, in Dayton, Ohio, and was buried in the Dayton National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company A who was not present at the battle due to detached service at Powder River, Montana.

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

Henry Petring (left) was born in Germany on November 29, 1853. He was a Private in Company G who participated in the valley and hilltop fights, during which he was wounded in an eye and hip.

James Pym died on November 29, 1893, in Miles City, Montana, and was buried in the Custer County Cemetery in Miles City. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight where he was wounded in the right ankle. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle.

John Noonan committed suicide on November 30, 1878, at Fort Abraham Lincoln in the Dakota Territory, and was originally buried in the cemetery there. He was later reinterred at Custer National Cemetery on the Crow Agency, Montana. He was a Corporal in Company L who was not present at the battle due to detached service at Powder River, Montana, where he guarded the cattle herd.

Thomas W. Coleman died in Sawtelle, California, on November 30, 1921, and was buried in the Los Angeles National Cemetery. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

William G. Abrams was born on December 1, 1840, in Baltimore, Maryland. He was a Private in Company L who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight during the battle.

William H. Baker was born on December 3, 1848, in Golconda, Illinois. He was a Private in Company E who was killed with Custer’s Column during the battle.

Thomas James Stowers, (left) who claimed to be a Sole Survivor of the battle, was born on December 3, 1848, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

Frank Berwald (right) was born on December 3, 1852, in Posen, Poland. He was a Private in Company E who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

Frank Volkenstine, who was also known as Frank Bowers, died on December 3, 1919, in Detroit, Michigan. He was a Private in Company M who was not present at the battle because he had been dishonorably discharged on May 31, 1876, in Fort Wayne, Michigan.

John F. Donohue died in Butte, Montana, on December 3, 1924, and was buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery in that city. He was a Private in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight during the battle.

Peter Thompson (left) died on December 3, 1928, in Hot Springs, South Dakota, and was buried in the Masonic Section of West Cemetery, in Lead, South Dakota. He was a Private in Company C who was wounded in the hilltop fight. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle.

John E. Hammon (right) was born in Lynchburg, Ohio, on December 4, 1857. He was a Corporal in Company G who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

John McCabe died on December 4, 1891, in Washington, D.C. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

John B. Ascough died in Columbus, Ohio, on December 4, 1903, and was buried in Old Greencastle Cemetery in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio. He was a Private in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight.

George A. Rudolph died on December 4, 1924, in Eddyville, New York, and was buried in Saint Peters Cemetery in Rosendale, Ulster County, New York. He was a Private in the Band, so he was not present at the battle. He was on detached service at Powder River, Montana.

Charles Henry Bishop died in East St. Louis, Illinois, on December 4, 1929, and was buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Fairview Heights, St. Clair County, Illinois. He was a Private in Company H who was wounded during the hilltop fight.

John Samuel Ragsdale died on December 4, 1942, in Dayton, Ohio, and was buried in the Dayton National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company A who was not present at the battle due to detached service at Powder River, Montana.

George Armstrong Custer (left) was born on December 5, 1839, in New Rumley, Ohio. He was an 1861 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point who was in command during the battle.

Isaac Fowler (right) of Company C died on December 5, 1881, in Union City, Indiana, and was buried in the Union City Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company C who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

History Mystery: What are the chances there were two men named Ernst Meineke, both born in Germany about 1845 and both baptized at the same church in Prussia ten months apart? Ernst Heinrich Friedrich Meineke was born on December 18, 1845, to Heinrich Friedrich Meineke and Sophie Charlotte Meineke and baptized on January 11, 1846. Ernst Friedrich Meineke was born on March 2, 1846, and baptized on March 9. His father was Georg Heinrich Barnstorf, and his mother was Dorothee Sophie Elisabeth Meineke. One of these boys likely served in the 7th Cavalry at the time of the Battle of the Little Bighorn (but was not present there). “Our” Ernst Meineke died at the Soldiers Home in Washington in 1907. If you have suggestions for how to decide which Ernst served in the 7th, please leave a comment or write to LBHA@cox.net.

Now for this week’s milestones . . . .


Richard Winick Corwine was born in Maysville, Mason County, Kentucky, on July 19, 1844. He was a Private in Company A who was not present at the Battle of the Little Bighorn due to detached service.

David Cooney died on July 20, 1876, at Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory. He was originally buried in the Post Cemetery there and was later reinterred in the Custer National Cemetery on the Crow Agency in Montana. He was a Private in Company I who rode with the pack train and was wounded in his right hip during the hilltop fight.

William August Marshall was born in Germany on July 21, 1851. He was a Private in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight during the battle.

The Minneapolis Tribune reported on July 21, 1882, that “. . . Francis J. Kennedy and Mary E. Hogan . . . received legal permission yesterday to marry.” He was a Private with Company I who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

John A. Reed (left) died on July 21, 1897, at Fort Sisseton, South Dakota. He was originally buried in the Post Cemetery there and was later reinterred in the Custer National Cemetery on the Crow Agency in Montana. He was a Private in Company G who was in the valley and hilltop fights.

John Eaton Tourtellotte (right) died on July 22, 1891, in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. A cenotaph for him is at the Tourtellotte Cemetery in Thompson, Connecticut, but he was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. He was a Captain in Company G who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

 Owen Hale (left) was born on July 23, 1843, in Troy, New York. He was a Captain in Company K who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Ernst Meineke died in Columbia Station, Virginia, on July 24, 1907, and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. He was a Private in Company F who was not present due to detached service.

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.

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.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

William G. Abrams was born on December 1, 1840, in Baltimore, Maryland. He was a Private in Company L who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

William H. Baker was born on December 3, 1848, in Golconda, Illinois. He was a Private in Company E who was killed with Custer’s Column during the battle.

Thomas James Stowers, who claimed to be a Sole Survivor of the battle, was born on December 3, 1848, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

Frank Berwald (left) was born on December 3, 1852, in Posen, Poland. He was a Private in Company E who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

Frank Volkenstine, who was also known as Frank Bowers, died on December 3, 1919, in Detroit, Michigan. He was a Private in Company M who was not present at the battle because he had been dishonorably discharged on May 31, 1876, in Fort Wayne, Michigan.

John F. Donohue died in Butte, Montana, on December 3, 1924, and was buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery in that city. He was a Private in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight during the battle.

Peter Thompson (left) died on December 3, 1928, in Hot Springs, South Dakota, and was buried in the Masonic Section of West Cemetery, in Lead, South Dakota. He was a Private in Company C who was wounded in the hilltop fight. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle.

John E. Hammon (right) was born in Lynchburg, Ohio, on December 4, 1857. He was a Corporal in Company G who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

John McCabe died on December 4, 1891, in Washington, D.C. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

John B. Ascough died in Columbus, Ohio, on December 4, 1903, and was buried in Old Greencastle Cemetery in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio. He was a Private in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight.

George A. Rudolph died on December 4, 1924, in Eddyville, New York, and was buried in Saint Peters Cemetery in Rosendale, Ulster County, New York. He was a Private in the Band, so he was not present at the battle. He was on detached service at Powder River, Montana.

Charles Henry Bishop died in East St. Louis, Illinois, on December 4, 1929, and was buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Fairview Heights, St. Clair County, Illinois. He was a Private in Company H who was wounded during the hilltop fight.

John Samuel Ragsdale died on December 4, 1942, in Dayton, Ohio, and was buried in the Dayton National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company A who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

George Armstrong Custer (left) was born on December 5, 1839, in New Rumley, Ohio. He was an 1861 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point who was in command during the battle.

Isaac Fowler (right) of Company C died on December 5, 1881, in Union City, Indiana, and was buried in the Union City Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company C who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

Martin McCue died on December 6, 1923, at Barnes Hospital in Washington, D.C., and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

Henry August Lange was born in Hanover, Germany, on December 7, 1851. He was a Private in Company E who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

Andrew Humes Nave (left) died on December 7, 1924, in Knoxville, Tennessee, and was buried in Highland Memorial Cemetery there. He was a Second Lieutenant with Company I who was not present at the battle due to illness.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

William August Marshall was born in Germany on July 21, 1851. He was a Private in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

The Minneapolis Tribune reported on July 21, 1882, that “. . . Francis J. Kennedy and Mary E. Hogan . . . received legal permission yesterday to marry.” He was a Private with Company I who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

John A. Reed (left) died on July 21, 1897, at Fort Sisseton, South Dakota. He was originally buried in the Post Cemetery there and was later reinterred in the Custer National Cemetery on the Crow Agency in Montana. He was a Private in Company G who was in the valley and hilltop fights.

John Eaton Tourtellotte died on July 22, 1891, in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. He was a Captain in Company G who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

 Owen Hale (right) was born on July 23, 1843, in Troy, New York. He was a Captain in Company K who was not present at the Battle of the Little Bighorn due to detached service.

Ernst Meineke died in Columbia Station, Virginia, on July 24, 1907, and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. He was a Private in Company F who was not present due to detached service.

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.

Thomas James Stowers 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.

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.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

William H. Baker was born on December 3, 1848, in Golconda, Illinois. He was a Private in Company E who was killed with Custer’s Column during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Thomas James Stowers, who claimed to be a Sole Survivor of the battle, was born on December 3, 1848, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

Frank Berwald was born on December 3, 1852, in Posen, Poland. He was a Private in Company E who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

John F. Donohue died in Butte, Montana, on December 3, 1924, and was buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery in that city. He was a Private in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

John E. Hammon (left) was born in Lynchburg, Ohio, on December 4, 1857. He was a Corporal in Company G who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

John McCabe died on December 4, 1891, in Washington, D.C. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

John B. Ascough died in Columbus, Ohio, on December 4, 1903, and was buried in Old Greencastle Cemetery in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio. He was a Private in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight.

George A. Rudolph died on December 4, 1924, in Eddyville, New York, and was buried in Saint Peters Cemetery in Rosendale, Ulster County, New York. He was a Private in the Band, so he was not present at the battle. He was on detached service at Powder River, Montana.

Charles Henry Bishop died in St. Louis, Missouri, on December 4, 1929, and was buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Fairview Heights, St. Clair County, Missouri. He was a Private in Company H who was wounded during the hilltop fight.

John Samuel Ragsdale died on December 4, 1942, in Dayton, Ohio, and was buried in the Dayton National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company A who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

George CusterGeorge Armstrong Custer (left) was born on December 5, 1839, in New Rumley, Ohio.

Isaac Fowler (right) of Company C died on December 5, 1881, in Union City, Indiana, and was buried in the Union City Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company C who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

Martin McCue died on December 6, 1923, at Barnes Hospital in Washington, D.C., and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

Henry August Lange was born in Hanover, Germany, on December 7, 1851. He was a Private in Company E who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

Andrew Humes Nave (left) died on December 7, 1924, in Knoxville, Tennessee, and was buried in Highland Memorial Cemetery there. He was a Second Lieutenant with Company I who was not present at the battle due to illness.