This Week in Little Bighorn History

Benjamin Beck was born on October 15, 1852, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a Private in the Band, so he did not go on the campaign to the Little Bighorn.

EErnest Albert Garlingtonrnest Albert Garlington (left) died in Coronado, California, on October 16, 1934, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. He was a Second Lieutenant in Company H who was not present at the Battle of the Little Bighorn due to detached service.

Benjamin C. Criswell (left) died on October 17, 1921, in Eldorado, Jackson County, Oklahoma, and was buried in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Gould, Harmon County, Oklahoma. He was a Sergeant with Company B who rode with the pack train and was wounded during the hilltop fight. He was awarded the Medal of Honor on October 5, 1878, for his actions during that fight.

Anton Seibelder died at the U. S. Soldiers’ Home in Washington, D.C., on October 18, 1913. He was a Private in Company A who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Michael Reagan, who was also known as John Desmond, was born on October 19, 1834, in Queenstown, Cobb County, Ireland. He was a Private in Company K who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

George Kelley died on October 21, 1922, in Leavenworth, Kansas, and was buried in the National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company H who was not present at the battle due to detached service.


This Week in Little Bighorn History

Happy New Year!

George Kelley was born on January 1, 1847, in New York, New York. He was not present at the battle due to being detailed to General Terry’s column. He married Octavus Wooley in 1874 in New Orleans, Louisiana. She died on September 17, 1875. They had no children. George died of a cerebral hemorrhage on October 21, 1922, at the National Military Home in Leavenworth, Kansas, and was buried in the National Cemetery there.

Other Seventh Cavalry anniversaries this week include:

  • Julius Gunther died on January 2, 1902. He was not present at the battle due to illness.
  • John Fox was born in Buffalo, New York, on January 3, 1844. He died at the U.S. Soldiers Home in Washington, D.C. and was buried in the National Cemetery there.
  • Franklin Rankin, who was also known as Edward Clyde, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head on January 3, 1895, at Columbus Barracks, Ohio.
  • Carl August Bruns was on detached service at the time of the battle. He died in Mandan, North Dakota, on January 4, 1910, and was buried in the Mandan Union Cemetery.
  • William M. Smith, a corporal in Company B, was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight where he was wounded. He died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on January 4, 1921.
  • John Pahl was born on January 5, 1850, in Bavaria, Germany, and died on January 28, 1924, in Hot Springs, South Dakota. He was buried in Bear Butte Cemetery in Sturgis, South Dakota.
  • George Wilhelmus Mancius Yates married Lucretia Beaumont Irwin on January 5, 1865. They divorced on January 31, 1867. He later married Annie Gibson Roberts and had three children.
  • Max Hoehn stayed with the regimental papers at Powder River. He died of heart problems on January 6, 1911, in Sturgis, South Dakota, and was buried in St. Aloysius Cemetery there.
  • Frederick William Benteen married Catherine Louise Norman on January 7, 1862. He was Captain of Company H and commanded a battalion during the battle.