This Week in Little Bighorn History

Emil Taube (left) was born on November 18, 1847, in Damerau, Germany. He was a Private in Company K who was on detached service at Yellowstone Depot during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Frederick Henry Gehrmann was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on November 18, 1855. He was a Private in Company B who was on detached service at Yellowstone Depot during the battle.

Walter Scott Sterland married Ella Jane Blanchard on November 18, 1879. He was a Private in Company M who was on detached service at Yellowstone Depot during the battle.

James Hill died in Wooster, Ohio, on November 18, 1906, and was buried in the Wooster Cemetery. He was the First Sergeant of Company B who was a pack train escort and fought on the hilltop.

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 Abraham Lincoln in the Dakota Territory 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 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, despite what his obituary says, 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 (left) 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.

Edward Garlick married Ann Elizabeth Hahn Dose, the widow of Henry C. Dose, on November 22, 1876.

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.

Martin Personeus married Mary Pauline Crisfield, the widow of William B. Crisfield, on November 23, 1876.

George Blunt (left) 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.

 

 


This Week in Little Bighorn History

Philipp Spinner died at Camp Douglas, Wisconsin, on August 12, 1895, and was buried in the Fort Sheridan Cemetery in Highwood, Illinois. He was a Private in Company B who participated in the valley and hilltop fights at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

White Swan (left) died on the Crow Agency in Montana on August 12, 1904, and was buried in the Custer National Cemetery there. He was an Indian Scout who participated in the valley and hilltop fights where he was wounded.

Thomas Hughes, who was also known as Charlie Hughes, died on August 12, 1911, in Nashville, Tennessee, and was buried in the Nashville National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company H who was wounded in the hilltop fight.

Roman Rutten (who was also known as Roman Ruttenauer, Rutler, Rullin, and Bolten) was born on August 13, 1846, in Baden, Germany. He was a Private in Company M who fought in the valley and hilltop fights. He was wounded on Reno Hill.

Morris Cain died in Colville, Washington, on August 13, 1906. He was a Private in Company M who fought in the valley and hilltop fights.

Thomas Carmody died of cancer on August 13, 1912, in New York City. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

Fred E. Allan, who was also known as Alfred Ernest Allen, was born in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, England, on August 14, 1847. He was a Private in Company C who was killed while fighting with Custer’s column.

Charles H. Houghtaling died on August 14, 1881, at Fort Lewis, Colorado, and was originally buried in the Post Cemetery there. He was later reinterred at the Fort McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell, Nebraska. He was a Private in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight.

James Hill was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on August 15, 1826 or 1833. He was the First Sergeant in Company B who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

Charles A. Windolph (left), who was also known as Charles Wrangel, married his second wife, Mathilda Lulow, on August 16, 1884, in Sturgis, Dakota Territory. He was a Private in Company H who suffered a wound during the hilltop fight for which he received the Purple Heart. He was also the recipient of the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during the battle.

Edwin Philip Eckerson died on August 17, 1885, in Hays, Kansas, and was buried in the Mount Allen Cemetery there. He was a 2nd Lieutenant in Company L who was enroute to the battle on June 25 and 26, 1876.

Frederick Smith died on August 18, 1905. He was a Private in Company K who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Jacob Huff died in Tilton, Illinois on August 18, 1929, and was buried in the North Grove Cemetery in Celina, Ohio. He was a Private in the band, which did not accompany the cavalry to the battle.


This Week in Little Bighorn History

Stanislas Roy (left) was born in France on November 12, 1846. He enlisted in the Seventh Cavalry in 1869 and served on both the Yellowstone and Black Hills expeditions. He later served as a corporal in Company A in the valley and hilltop fights at Little Bighorn. He was awarded the Medal of Honor on October 5, 1878, with the citation: “Brought water to the wounded under a most galling fire.” Roy attended the dedication of the Custer Monument in Monroe, Michigan, in 1910 and died of cancer in 1913 at Columbus Barracks, Ohio. He was buried in Green Lawn Cemetery in Columbus, Ohio.

William Sadler died on November 12, 1921, in Linton, North Dakota, and was buried the following day in the Linton Cemetery. He was a Private in Company D who was not present at the Little Bighorn due to detached service at Powder River.

Patrick Coakley (right) died in Washington, D.C., on November 13, 1881, and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company K who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Thomas H. Rush died on November 13, 1905, in Elmhurst, Alameda County, California. He was a Sergeant in Company D who was not present on the campaign because he was in the hospital at Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory.

William C. Slaper (left) died on November 13, 1931, in Sawtelle, California, and was buried in the Los Angeles National Cemetery. He was a Private with Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights. He attended the 50th Anniversary Reunion of the battle in 1926.

Frederick Francis Girard was born on November 14, 1829, in St. Louis, Missouri. On November 15, 1877, he married Ella Scarborough Waddell. He had previously been married to a Piegan Indian. Girard was an interpreter who participated in the valley fight.

Edward Rood (right) was born in Tioga County, New York, on November 14, 1847. He was a Private in Company E and was killed in the battle.

Marcus Albert Reno was born on November 15, 1834, in Carrollton, Illinois. Entire books have been written about Major Reno because he played a significant role in the battle.

Frank Volkenstine, who was also known as Frank Bowers, was born on November 15, 1844, in Birmingham, Michigan. He was a Private with Company M, but he was not on the campaign because he was dishonorably discharged in Fort Wayne, Michigan, on May 31, 1876.

Markus Weiss died on November 15, 1879, at Fort Meade, Dakota Territory, as a result of a compound fracture of his neck he received from a cave-in of a gravel bank, and was buried in the Fort Meade National Cemetery. He was a Private with Company G who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Henry James Nowlan died in Hot Springs, Arkansas, on November 10, 1898, and was buried at the Little Rock National Cemetery in Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas. He was a First Lieutenant with the Quartermaster unit who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

James J. Galvan, also known as Michael J. Miller, was born in Liverpool, England, on November 16, 1848. He was a Private in Company L and was killed in the battle.

Hugh McGonigle died on November 16, 1916, in Washington, D.C. , and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company G who fought in the valley and hilltop fights.

Emil Taube (left) was born on November 18, 1847, in Damerau, Germany. He was a Private in Company K who was on detached service at Yellowstone Depot during the battle.

Frederick Henry Gehrmann was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on November 18, 1855. He was a Private in Company B who was on detached service at Yellowstone Depot during the battle.

James Hill died in Wooster, Ohio, on November 18, 1906, and was buried in the Wooster Cemetery two days later. He was the First Sergeant of Company B who was a pack train escort and fought on the hilltop.


This Week in Little Bighorn History

Roman Ruttan (who was also known as Roman Ruttenauer, Rutler, Rullin, and Bolten) was born on August 13, 1846, in Baden, Germany. He was a Private in Company M who fought in the valley and hilltop fights. He was wounded on Reno Hill.

Morris Cain died in Colville, Washington, on August 13, 1906. He was a Private in Company M who fought in the valley and hilltop fights.

Thomas Carmody died of cancer on August 13, 1912, in New York City. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

Fred E. Allan, who was also known as Alfred Ernest Allen, was born in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, England, on August 14, 1847. He was a Private in Company C who was killed while fighting in the Battle of the Little Bighorn with Custer’s column.

Charles H. Houghtaling died on August 14, 1881, at Fort Lewis, Colorado, and was originally buried in the Post Cemetery there. He was later reinterred at the Fort McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell, Nebraska. He was a Private in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight.

James Hill was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on August 15, 1826 or 1833. He was the First Sergeant in Company B who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

Charles A. Windolph (left), who was also known as Charles Wrangel, married his second wife, Mathilda Lulow, on August 16, 1884, in Sturgis, Dakota Territory. He was a Private in Company H who suffered a wound during the hilltop fight for which he received the Purple Heart. He was also the recipient of the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during the battle.

Edwin Philip Eckerson died on August 17, 1885, in Hays, Kansas, and was buried in the Mount Allen Cemetery there. He was a 2nd Lieutenant in Company L who was enroute to the battle on June 25 and 26, 1876.

Frederick Smith died on August 18, 1905. He was a Private in Company K who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Jacob Huff died in Tilton, Illinois on August 18, 1929, and was buried in the North Grove Cemetery in Celina, Ohio. He was a Private in the band, which did not accompany the cavalry to the battle.

Thomas Sherborne died on August 19, 1910, in Washington, D.C. He also was a Private in the band, which did not accompany the cavalry to the battle.


This Week in Little Bighorn History

Seventh Cavalry anniversaries this week include:

  • Edward Rood was born in Tioga County, New York, on November 14, 1847. He was a Private in Company E and was killed in the battle.
  • Marcus Albert Reno was born on November 15, 1834, in Carrollton, Illinois. Entire books have been written about Major Reno (see below) because he played a significant role in the battle.
  • On November 15, 1877, Frederic Francis Girard married Ella Scarborough Waddell. He had previously been married to a Piegan Indian. He was in the valley fight.
  • James J. Galvan, also known as Michael J. Miller, was born in Liverpool, England, on November 16, 1848. He was a Private in Company L and was killed in the battle.
  • Hugh McGonigle died on November 16, 1916, in Washington, D.C. He was a Private in Company G who fought in the valley and hilltop fights.
  • Emil Taube was born on November 18, 1847, in Damerau, Germany. He was a Private in Company K who was on detached service at Yellowstone Depot during the battle.
  • Frederick Henry Gehrmann was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on November 18, 1855. He was a Private in Company B who was on detached service at Yellowstone Depot during the battle.
  • James Hill died in Wooster, Ohio, on November 18, 1906. He was the First Sergeant of Company B who was a pack train escort and fought on the hilltop.
  • Thomas H. Rush, also known as Thomas Morton, was born on November 19, 1941, in Greenville, Ohio. He was at Fort Lincoln during the campaign due to illness.
  • William W. Lasley was born in St. Louis County, Missouri, on November 19, 1842. He was a Private in Company K who was in the hilltop fight.
  • 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.
  • 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.