This Week in Little Bighorn History

James Madison DeWolf (left) was born in Mehonpany, Pennsylvania, on January 14, 1843. He was the Acting Assistant Surgeon for the Seventh, and he was killed during the battle.

Thomas F. O’Neill (right) was born on January 14, 1846 (gravestone has 1847) in Dublin, Ireland.  He was a Private with Company G who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Andrew Fredericks died on January 14, 1881, at Fort Totten, Dakota Territory, and was buried in the Custer National Cemetery on Crow Agency, Montana. He was a Sergeant in Company K who fought on the hilltop.

 

Charles Braden (left) died on January 15, 1919, in Highland Falls, New York, and was buried at the U.S. Military Academy Post Cemetery. He was an 1869 graduate of the Academy who married Jeanette Devin, the daughter of General Thomas Casimer Devin, who was said to be one of the best and most effective Union commanders in the Civil War. Braden was not present at the Battle of the Little Bighorn due to wounds suffered during an Indian attack on his camp on the Yellowstone River on August 11, 1873. He was granted a leave of absence on March 13, 1874, until he retired due to disability on June 28, 1878.

Fremont Kipp (right) died in Washington, D.C., on January 16, 1938, and was buried there in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery. He was a Private in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight.

Young Hawk died on January 16, 1915, in Elbowoods, North Dakota, and was buried in the Indian Scout Cemetery in McLean County, North Dakota. He was an Arikara scout who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Francis Hegner died in Kenockee Township, Michigan, on January 17, 1891. He was a Private in Company F who was on detached service during the battle, so he was not present.

Francis Marion Gibson (left) died on January 17, 1919, in New York City and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. He was the brother-in-law of Donald McIntosh. He was the First Lieutenant of Company H who was on scouting duty and participated in the hilltop fight.

Joseph Carroll was born in New York, New York, on January 19, 1847. He was a member of the band, so he was not present at the battle.

John E. Hammon (right) died on January 19, 1909, in Sturgis, South Dakota, and was buried there in the Bear Butte Cemetery. He was a Corporal in Company G and was in the hilltop and valley fights.

Henry Harrison Davis was born on January 20, 1846, in Bellvernon, Virginia. He was a Private in Company M and was in the hilltop and valley fights. He died around 1905.

John J. Rafter was born in Lansingburgh, New York, on January 20, 1851, and died on January 16, 1927, in Leavenworth, Kansas. He was buried in the Mount Calvary Cemetery in Leavenworth. He was the Sergeant in Company K who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

August B. Siefert died on January 20, 1921, in Highland Park, Illinois, and was buried in the Fort Sheridan Cemetery in Highwood, Illinois. He was a Private with Company K during the hilltop fight.


This Week in Little Bighorn History

Thomas H. Rush, who was also known as Thomas Morton, was born on November 19, 1841, in Greenville, Ohio. He was a Sergeant in Company D who was at Fort Lincoln during the campaign due to illness.

William W. Lasley (left) was born in St. Louis County, Missouri, on November 19, 1842. He was a Private in Company K who was in the hilltop fight.

Paul Schleiffarth died on November 19, 1896, at Fort Thomas, Kentucky. He was a Private in Company F who was not present at the Battle of the Little Bighorn due to detached service at the mouth of Rosebud Creek.

Thomas Eaton Graham was born on November 20, 1831, in Alton, Ohio. He was a Private in Company G who fought in the valley and hilltop fights.

George Brainard died in Cleveland, Ohio, on November 20, 1886. He was a Private in Company B on detached service as an orderly for General Alfred Terry.

John Valentine Whisten died on November 20, 1912, in Oakland, California. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Frank J. Geist died in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on November 20, 1918, and was buried in Lakewood Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company G who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

James T. Reilly died on November 21, 1880, in Baltimore, Maryland, and may be buried in the Loudon Park National Cemetery there. He was a Sergeant in Company E who was wounded by gunshot on Reno Hill.

Stephen Cowley (right) died on November 21, 1886, in Larimore, Grand Forks County, North Dakota, and was buried in the Bellevue Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company D who was on detached service at Yellowstone Depot during the battle.

Alexander Brown Bishop was born on November 22, 1853, in Brooklyn, New York. He was a Corporal in Company H who was wounded during the hilltop fight.

George Gaffney died in Washington, D.C., on November 22, 1916, and was buried on November 27 in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a Sergeant in Company I who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Charles Braden (left) was born on November 23, 1847, in Detroit. He was an 1859 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point where he received his commission. He was a First Lieutenant in Company L who was not present at the battle due to illness.

William C. Slaper (right) was born on November 23, 1854, in Cincinnati. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

George Blunt died on November 23, 1905, at the Joyce Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland. His death was ruled a suicide by gas asphyxiation. He was buried in the Loudon Park Cemetery in Baltimore. He was a Private in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

Augustus Louis DeVoto died on November 23, 1923, in Tacoma, Washington, and was buried in the Calvary Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

Charles Henry Campbell died on November 25, 1920, in Bismarck, North Dakota, and was buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery there. He was a Private with Company B who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

 

This Week in Little Bighorn History


Charles Braden (left) died on January 15, 1919, in Highland Falls, New York, and was buried at the U.S. Military Academy Post Cemetery. He was an 1869 graduate of the Academy who married Jeanette Devin, the daughter of General Thomas Casimer Devin, who was said to be one of the best and most effective Union commanders in the Civil War. Braden was not present at the Battle of the Little Bighorn due to wounds suffered during an Indian attack on his camp on the Yellowstone River on August 11, 1873. He was granted a leave of absence on March 13, 1874, until he retired due to disability on June 28, 1878.

Other Seventh Cavalry anniversaries this week include:

Fremont Kipp died in Washington, D.C., on January 16, 1938, and was buried there in the U.S. Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery.

Young Hawk died on January 16, 1915, in Elbowoods, North Dakota, and was buried in the Indian Scout Cemetery in McLean County, North Dakota.

Francis Hegner died in Kenockee Township, Michigan, on January 17, 1891. He was on detached service during the battle, so he was not present.

Francis Marion Gibson died on January 17, 1919, in New York City and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. He was the brother-in-law of Donald McIntosh.

Joseph Carroll was born in New York, New York, on January 19, 1847. He was a member of the band, so he was not present at the battle.

John E. Hammon died on January 19, 1909, in Sturgis, South Dakota, and was buried there in the Bear Butte Cemetery. He was a Corporal in Company G and was in the hilltop and valley fights.

Henry Harrison Davis was born on January 20, 1846, in Bellvernon, Virginia. He was a Private in Company M and was in the hilltop and valley fights. He died around 1905.

John J. Rafter was born in Lansingburgh, New York, on January 20, 1851, and died on January 16, 1927, in Leavenworth, Kansas. He was buried in the Mount Calvary Cemetery in Leavenworth.

August B. Siefert died on January 20, 1921, in Highland Park, Illinois, and was buried in the Fort Sheridan Cemetery in Highwood, Illinois. He was with Company K during the hilltop fight.

Stephen Cowley was married in County Mayo, Ireland, to Bridget Agnes Moore on January 21, 1871. He was on detached service at Yellowstone Depot, so he was not present at the battle.

Joseph Kneubuhler died on January 21, 1917, in San Diego, California.  He was a member of the band, so he was not present at the battle.

Christian C. Boisen died in Fort Smith, Arkansas, on January 21, 1923, and was buried at the National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company K who was in the hilltop fight.


This Week in Little Bighorn History

Stephen Cowley died on November 21, 1886. He was a Private in Company D who was on detached service at Yellowstone Depot during the battle.

Stephen Cowley was born in Sligo County, Ireland, his father was Michael Cowley, a butcher. He married Bridget Agnes Moore on January 21, 1871 in County Mayo, Ireland. He immigrated in the Spring of 1871 to the United States and immediately registered in the United States Army for the Civil and Indian Wars. He served with General Custer in Company B which was assigned the responsibility of guarding the pack train. His service continued and he was discharged from the Cavalry on September 10, 1882 at Fort Totten, North Dakota. . . .

Stephen and Bridget had 5 children, one son, Ambrose died at 5 months, those who survived are James Joseph, Stephen Joseph, Michael Joseph and Sadie Mary. Stephen died in November 1886 at Larimore, Grand Forks County, North Dakota. He is buried in the Bellevue Cemetery there. [Findagrave.com]

Other Seventh Cavalry anniversaries this week include:

  • Alexander Bishop was born on November 22, 1853, in Brooklyn, New York.
  • George Gaffney died in Washington, D.C., on November 22, 1916.
  • Charles Braden was born on November 23, 1847, in Detroit.
  • William Slaper was born on November 23, 1854, in Cincinnati.
  • George Blunt died on November 23, 1905, at the Joyce Hotel in Baltimore.
  • Augustus DeVoto died on November 23, 1923, in Tacoma, Washington.
  • Charles A. Campbell died on November 25, 1920, in Bismarck, North Dakota.
  • Joseph Tilford was born in Georgetown, Kentucky, on November 26, 1828.
  • William Morris died in New York City on November 26, 1933.
  • Hiram Sager was born on November 27, 1850, in Westport, New York.
  • The Battle on the Washita was on November 27, 1868. See the books below for more about this infamous battle.