This Week in Little Bighorn History

Moses Eaton Flint was born on October 10, 1819, in Richford, Vermont. He was a Packer for the Quartermaster unit who was with the pack train during the Battle of the Little Bighorn and participated in the hilltop fight.

George Anson Merritt (left) 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 (right) married Nettie B. Bowen on October 10, 1867. He was a First Lieutenant in command of Company E who was killed with Custer’s Column.

Christopher Criddle was born on October 11, 1845, in New Canton, Buckingham County, Virginia. He was a Private in Company C who was killed with Custer’s Column during the battle.

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

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 because he was guarding Custer’s luggage on the steamer Far West.

Henry William Bigler 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.

 Benjamin Beck was born on October 15, 1852, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a Private in the Band, so he was on detached service at the Powder River depot.

Frederick Deetline (left) was awarded the Medal of Honor on October 15, 1878, for his actions during the battle.

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 who was not present at the battle due to detached service at Powder River.

Ernest Albert Garlington

Ernest Albert Garlington (left) died in Coronado, California, on October 16, 1934, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Section 3, Grave 1735-BSH. He was a Second Lieutenant in Company H who was not present at the battle because he was on leave after his graduation from the U. S. Military Academy at West Point.

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