This Week in Little Bighorn History

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 in the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

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 the back.

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, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. 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 Dorado, Arkansas, and was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in El Dorado. He was a Private in Company H who was wounded in the hilltop fight. [Right, an advertisement for Severs’ business from Our Brother in Red (Muskogee, Oklahoma) 24 October 1895, Page 8.]

William M. Shields died at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, on September 6, 1887. 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, and they had a daughter named Florence in 1899. He was a Saddler with Company B who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

Strikes Two died on September 8, 1922, in Elbowood, North Dakota, and was buried in the Indian Scout Cemetery in McLean County, North Dakota. He was an Arikara Scout who crossed the river with Reno’s Column.

 


This Week in Little Bighorn History

John Sivertsen (right) 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, and they had a son the next year who was born in Duluth, Minnesota.

Henry N. B. Witt was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on December 10, 1852. He was a Private in Company K who was not present at the Battle of the Little Bighorn due to detached service.

William J. Gregg (left) died on December 10, 1913, in Hampton, Virginia, and was 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 was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. He was a Private in Company B who was on detached service during the battle.

William Van Wyck Reily 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.

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 for his actions during the battle.

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, 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, 1983. 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.

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.

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 Braendle  (right) 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 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.

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.

 

 


This Week in Little Bighorn History

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.

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.

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 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 was 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 J. Finnegan was born on September 1, 1950, in Hillsboro, Ohio. He was a Private in Company M who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

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.

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.


This Week in Little Bighorn History

William Van Wyck Reily 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.

Other Seventh Cavalry anniversaries this week include:

  • John G. Tritten died in Dayton, Ohio, on December 12, 1918. He was on detached service during the battle.
  • Frederick Deetline died on December 13, 1910, in San Antonio, Texas, and is buried in the National Cemetery there.
  • Francis Marion Gibson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on December 14, 1847. He survived the battle, but his brother-in-law, Donald McIntosh, did not.
  • Henry Holden, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in the hilltop fight, died on December 14, 1905, in East Brighton, England.
  • James P. Boyle was born in County Typrone, Ireland, on December 15, 1983.
  • Matthew Maroney died on December 15, 1880, in Washington, D.C.
  • Felix Villiet Vinatieri, the Chief Musician of the Seventh Cavalry, died in Yankton, South Dakota, on December 15, 1891. He was not present at the battle.
  • John Donahoe died on December 15, 1905, in San Francisco, California, and is buried in the National Cemetery there.
  • William Braendle died in Santa Rosa, California, on December 15, 1932, and is buried in the San Francisco National Cemetery.
  • John McKenna drowned in the Ohio River before December 16, 1888, when his body was found near Constance, Kentucky.
  • Edward D. Pigford died in Lock Three, Pennsylvania, on December 16, 1932. He fought in the valley and hilltop fights and was wounded.
  • Myles Moylan was born on December 17, 1838, in Amesbury, Massachusetts, and died on December 11, 1909, in San Diego, California.
  • 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.
  • George B. Penwell died on December 17, 1905, at Barnes Hospital in Washington, D.C., and was buried at the U.S. Soldiers and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery there.
  • John Schwerer died at the National Soldiers Home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on December 17, 1913, and was buried at the Wood National Cemetery.
  • James O’Neill died on December 17, 1931, in Sawtelle, California. He was not present at the battle 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.
  • Michael P. Madden died in California, Missouri, on December 18. 1883. He was wounded during the hilltop fight, and Dr. Porter amputated his leg in the field.