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This Week in Little Bighorn History

Johann Michael Vetter was born in Hessen, Germany, on December 23, 1853. He was a Private in Company L who was killed during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Joseph Carroll died on December 23, 1904, in Danville, Vermilion County, Illinois, and was buried in the National Cemetery there. He was a Private in the Band, so he was not present at the battle.

John Martin (left), who immigrated from Italy as Giovanni Martini, died on December 24, 1922, in Brooklyn, New York, and was buried in Cypress Hills National Cemetery there. He was the Trumpeter for Company H who brought the famous “be quick” note to Benteen.

Martin Personeus died in Carlinsville, Illinois, on December 24, 1889. He was a Private in Company L who was on detached service during the battle.

John James Carey died in Malone, Grays Harbor County, Washington, on December 24, 1929, and was buried in Pioneer Cemetery in Centralia, Lewis County, Washington. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

Thomas W. Coleman was born on December 25, 1849, in Troy, New York. He was a Private in Company B who with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

Edwin B. Wight was born in Casco, Maine, on December 25, 1851. He was a Private in Company B who was on detached service during the battle.

William Millard Caldwell married Blanche Miller on December 25, 1887, in Clearfield, Pennsylvania. He was a Private in Company B who was on detached service during the battle.

John Sivertsen (left) married Anna Olson on December 25, 1889, in Douglas County, Wisconsin.

Thomas Wilford Harrison (right) died on December 25, 1917, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was buried in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Yeadon, Pennsylvania. He was a Sergeant for Company D who was in the hilltop fight.

Stephen Cowley was born on December 26, 1846, in Sligo, Ireland. He was a Private in Company D who was not present at the battle due to detached service at Yellowstone Depot.

MaxHoehn (left) was born in Berlin, Germany, on December 26, 1854. He was a Private inCompany L who stayed with the regimental papers at Powder River so he was not in the battle.

Timothy Haley was born on December 26, 1846, in Cork, Ireland. He was a Private in Company H who participated in the hilltop fight.

John Meyers died of consumption on December 26, 1877, at Fort Abraham Lincoln in the Dakota Territory and was buried in the Custer National Cemetery in Montana. He was the Saddler for Company C, and he participated in the hilltop fight.

John J. Fay died in Washington, D.C., on December 26, 1932, and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company D who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

John Fox also died in Washington, D.C., on December 26, 1932, and was also buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. Like Fay, he was a Private in Company D and participated in the hilltop fight.

Wilson McConnell died on December 27, 1906, in King, Wisconsin, and was buried in the Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

Peter Thompson (left) was born in Markinch, County Fife, Scotland, on December 28, 1843. He was Private in Company C who was wounded in the hilltop fight. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle.

John Samuel Ragsdale married Lois Durham on December 28, 1877. He was a Private in Company A who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

David McWilliams died at Fort Meade, South Dakota, on December 28, 1881, and was buried in the National Cemetery there. Hewas a Private in Company H who was not in the battle because he had been shot in the leg on the Far West on June 6, 1876.

The Battle of Wounded Knee occurred in South Dakota on December 29, 1890.

Richard Winick Corwine died during the Battle of Wounded Knee on December 29, 1890, and was buried at the Fort Riley Post Cemetery. He was a Private in Company A on detached service during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Gustave Korn (left) was a Private in Company I and participated in the hilltop fight. He became the caretaker of Comanche, the only horse that survived the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Korn was killed during the Battle of Wounded Knee on December 29, 1890. He was originally buried in the Pine Ridge Cemetery on Pine Ridge Agency, South Dakota, and was later reinterred at the Fort Riley Post Cemetery in Geary County, Kansas.

George Daniel Wallace (right) was a Second Lieutenant who commanded Company G during the Battle of the Little Bighorn and fought in the valley and hilltop fights. He died on December 29, 1890, during the Battle of Wounded Knee due to gunshot wounds in his head and abdomen. He was buried on January 6, 1891, in the Rose Hill Cemetery in York County, South Carolina.

Frank Hunter died on December 29, 1899, in Washington, D.C., and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company F who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Little Bighorn Timeline: The Afternoon of June 25, 1876

Based on John S. Gray’s tables in Custer’s Last Campaign: Mitch Boyer and the Little Bighorn Reconstructed unless noted otherwise. Several people commented on this timeline when it was originally published on LittleBighorn.info; those comments are in italics.

June 25, 1876

PM

Noon: Command passed the Crow’s Nest and crossed the Divide. There is substantial testimony that the time for this event was significantly earlier.

12:05: Command at Halt 3; General George Custer assigned the battalions. This is 2nd Lieutenant George Wallace‘s Halt 2, about 1/2 mile west of the divide. Captain Thomas McDougall (left) [in Reno Court of Inquiry: Proceedings of a Court of Inquiry in the Case of Major Marcus A. Reno (RCOI)] stated, “On June 25th, about 11 o’clock a.m., I reported to General Custer for orders. He told me to take charge of the pack train and act as rear guard.” If Wallace’s watch (itinerary) was set to Headquarters St. Paul time — and 1st Lieutenant Edward Settles Godfrey said definitely that “Our watches were not changed (RCOI)” — Wallace’s 12:05 is approximately = 10:45 local time, within 15 minutes of McDougall’s recalled 11:00. Cf. Friedman, recalled time is accurate within one hour excluding the possibility of chance in Memory & Cognition 15.6 (1987): 518-20.

12:12: Custer-Reno battalions left the divide halt to descend to Reno Creek. Captain Frederick Benteen‘s battalion left the divide halt on an off-trail scout to the left. It is unlikely that all three columns actually set off at precisely the same time but the impact is only a few minutes.

12:32: The pack train left the divide halt on Custer’s trail.

1:20: Benteen’s battalion arrived at upper No-Name Creek and turned down it. On a high ridge ahead, 1st Lieutenant Francis Gibson (left) found the Little Bighorn valley empty. Many years later Lt. Gibson expressed doubt that he had actually viewed the correct valley (see interview with Camp).

2:00: Custer-Reno battalions passed No-Name Creek. Reno was called to the right bank. Sergeant Daniel Kanipe and 1st Sergeant John Ryan, as well as Reno, say Reno was called to the right bank near the Lone Tepee. This subtracts a mile from Gray’s itinerary.

2:15: Custer-Reno battalions passed the lone tepee. Custer’s battalion left down the right bank of Reno Creek. The scouts reported Sioux in the Little Bighorn Valley. Custer ordered Reno to lead out at a trot.

2:17: Boston Custer trots ahead of the pack train to overtake Custer.

2:32: Benteen’s battalion arrived at Reno Creek, 1/4 mile above the mouth of No-Name Creek. They saw the pack train 3/4 mile above. Boston Custer joins them. Benteen (The Custer Myth, p. 180) recalled being at the morass at 1:00 p.m., Godfrey thought 2:00. Assuming Hutchins/Knipe are right about the location of the morass, it is near the mouth of the South Fork.

2:37: Benteen’s battalion reached the morass to water the horses. Boston Custer trotted on.

2:43: Custer’s battalion trotted to the flat right behind Reno. The scouts reported the Sioux were alarming the village. Reno was ordered to charge taking Adjutant William W. Cooke (left). Custer sent two scouts to the bluff who joined Reno.

2:45: Boston Custer passed the lone tepee.

2:47: At the North Fork, Reno’s battalion crossed to the left bank of Reno Creek.

2:51: Custer’s battalion made a fast walk to the North Fork and halted to water.

2:53: Reno’s battalion crossed to the left bank of the Little Bighorn River at Ford A where it halted to water the horses and reform. The troops and the scouts saw the Sioux attacking.

2:55: Cooke left to report to Custer.

2:57: Benteen’s battalion departed the morass as the packtrain arrived. The packtrain halted to water and close up.

3:01: Cooke reported the Sioux were attacking Reno. Custer’s battalion started down the right bank of the Little Bighorn River, leaving the north fork of Reno Creek.

3:03: Reno’s battalion left Ford A and started its charge down the left bank of the Little Bighorn River. If Reno crossed Reno Creek near the Lone tepee at 2:00 according to Wallace’s watch, he was about 3-3.5 miles from Ford A. The column proceeded at a trot or “slow gallop” for 15 minutes, again according to Wallace. This would cover about 2 miles at 7.5-8 mph. Wallace said Reno was ordered to attack about 2:15. He took the gallop and covered the remaining mile to the river in about 5 minutes (gallop 9-11 mph in Upton, 1 mile in 6 minutes according to Cooke), and crossed at Ford A at 2:20 in Wallace’s recollection. Using Anders’/Graham’s 1 hour 20 minute difference between local time and official Headquarters time, then Reno crossed Ford A near 1:00, consistent with recollections of Interpreter Frederick Girard, Acting Assistant Surgeon Henry Porter, Kanipe, and Taylor. Gray added 43 minutes and at least two miles between Reno’s crossing of the creek and fording the Little Bighorn.

3:05: Reno’s battalion saw Custer or the scouts on the right bank bluff.

3:10: Pony captors leave the Reno charge to capture Sioux herd. 2nd Lieutenant Luther Hare (left) (Custer in ’76, p. 65) said he and the Rees rode down the valley while Reno was watering the horses (i.e., crossing river?) and the Rees took off from him about a mile down river. Private William Jackson (William Jackson, William Jackson, Indian Scout: His True Story Told by His Friend,, p.135) said scouts rode out ahead of Reno and turned straight down valley.

3:12: Benteen’s battalion walked past the lone tepee.

3:13: Reno’s battalion saw Custer’s battalion at Reno Hill. Custer’s battalion saw Reno charge the village.

3:15: Sgt. Daniel Kanipe left for Capt. Frederick Benteen and the pack train.

3:17: The pack train left the morass.

3:18: Reno’s battalion halted and formed a skirmish line. They saw Custer’s battalion on the bluffs, disappearing. Custer’s battalion passed Sharpshooter Ridge and entered Cedar Coulee. Reno’s attack/formation of skirmish line occurred about midday, probably 1:00 pm.

3:20: Little Sioux (Ree), Strikes Two (Ree), Red Star (Ree), Boy Chief (Ree), One Feather (Ree), Bull Stands in Water (Ree), and Whole Buffalo (Sioux) diverged from Reno’s charge and drove captured Sioux ponies up the bluff. They were joined there by seven stragglers who lagged behind on Custer’s trail and never crossed the Little Bighorn: Soldier (Ree), Stabbed (Ree), Bull (Ree), White Eagle (Ree), Red Wolf (Ree), Strikes the Lodge (Ree), and Charging Bull (Ree). If they left the column at 3:10 (above), how could they diverge from Reno’s charge at 3:20?

3:23: Custer’s battalion arrived at the bend of Cedar Coulee and halted.

3:24: Custer, his officers, Guide Mitch Bouyer (left) and Curley left the bend on a side trip to Weir Peak.

3:26: Three Crows left the halted command at the bend of Cedar Coulee (off-trail). Goes Ahead (The Teepee Book, 2.6, June 1916, p.604) says scouts were told to make their escape at the trenches of the Reno-Benteen site.

3:28: Custer’s party arrived at Weir Peak and saw the village and Reno skirmishing.

3:28.5: The three Crows halted on the bluff above Weir Peak.

3:30: 1st Lieutenant Charles DeRudio (left) saw Custer’s party at Weir Point. Custer’s party saw the concealed route to Ford B and the village. Not possible to identify individual and/or clothing on Weir from valley position. Who DeRedio saw remains open to question.

3:31: Custer and officers left Weir Peak to return to the command. The Arikara were fired on by the last of Custer’s column as it was disappearing over Weir (on the eastern edge), crossed Kanipe’s route, encountered stragglers left behind Custer’s column. Custer in ’76, 180-1; Arikara Narrative of Custer’s Campaign and the Battle of the Little Bighorn, 115-6.

3:32: The pack train passed the lone tepee.

3:32.5: Boston Custer passed Reno Hill. The Reno fight would have been visible for the next five minutes.

3:33: Reno withdrew the battalion into the timber. The three Crows saw Reno’s skirmish, fired at the Sioux, and left.

3:34: Custer returned to the halt at the bend from Weir Peak. Trumpeter John Martin (left) left Custer’s battalion at the bend of Cedar Coulee for Benteen. Custer started down Cedar Coulee.

3:36: Pony captors overtook and passed Sergeant Kanipe.

3:38: John Martin met Boston Custer at the head of Cedar Coulee.

3:39: The three Crows halted, had a drink in the Little Bighorn River, and captured five ponies.

3:40: John Martin saw Reno’s battalion fighting in the timber.

3:40:5: Benteen’s battalion met the Rees driving the Sioux ponies.

3:42: Sergeant Daniel Kanipe met Benteen’s battalion with a verbal message from Custer.

3:45: Little Sioux (Ree), Strikes Two (Ree), Red Star (Ree), Boy Chief (Ree), One Feather (Ree), Bull Stands in Water (Ree), Whole Buffalo (Sioux), Soldier (Ree), Stabbed (Ree), Bull (Ree), White Eagle (Ree), Red Wolf (Ree), Strikes the Lodge (Ree), and Charging Bull (Ree) drove the herd of Sioux ponies back to the packtrain and halted. Pretty Face (Ree) was with the packs until this time.

3:46.5: Custer’s battalion halted at the mouth of Cedar Coulee.

3:48: The pack train met Kanipe who had Custer’s message.

3:49: Boston Custer overtakes Custer’s battalion at the mouth of Cedar Coulee with news. The three Crows continued upriver.

3:52: Black Fox (Ree) (left) was at the bluffs and joined the three Crows who were given a Sioux pony.

3:53: Reno ‘s battalion began its retreat upstream. Girard (RCOI) puts this about 2:00. His watch, giving timing of sunrise near 4:00 a.m. local time and full dark at 9:00 p.m., reflects local time fairly closely. Additionally, Girard’s watch times closely match the captured Rosebud watch timing the entire fight from skirmish line to the surround on Reno Hill from 1-4. It is, per Hardorff, extremely unlikely that Crook, who was headquartered in Omaha, would have set his command watches to San Francisco time. Headquarters is where the general is, and the general had been in the field (Douglas, Wyoming, approximates headquarters) for more than a year. Headquarters time is what the general says it is–why set watches an hour and a half off daybreak, noon?

3:55: Rees switched to fresh Sioux ponies and started back to Reno. Custer’s battalion saw signals by Mitch Boyer and Curley on Weir Ridge.

3:56.5: Custer’s battalion started down Medicine Tail Coulee.

3:58: Benteen’s battalion met Trumpeter John Martin at the flat where they heard firing. The three Crows passed Reno Hill and saw Reno’s retreat.

4:00: Reno’s battalion retreats across the Little Bighorn River. Bobtail Bull (Ree) and Little Brave (Ree) (left) had been killed on the east bank by this time.

4:02: Benteen’s battalion took Custer’s trail at the North Fork.

4:04: Custer’s battalion halted in Medicine Tail Coulee where Boyer and Curley joined them.

4:04:5: The packtrain was overtaken by the Rees who were returning to Reno Hill.

4:05: Young Hawk’s party was trapped on the east bank bottom by the Sioux and fought. Scout George Herendeen‘s party scrambled back to the timber from the retreat.

4:06: Benteen’s battalion saw Reno’s retreat at the knoll and halted.

4:08: Captain George Yates‘ battalion (Companies F and E, off-trail) left the separation halt down Medicine Tail Coulee. Custer’s battalion (Companies C, I, and L) left the separation halt north out of Medicine Tail Coulee.

4:10: Benteen’s battalion met three Crows and one Ree and left the halt. Reno’s battalion climbed the bluffs obliquely to Reno Hill. Private William Baker (1/2 Ree), Private William Cross (Ree, 1/2 Sioux), Red Bear (Ree horse herder), White Cloud (Sioux rear guard), Ma-tok-sha (Sioux), and Caroo (Sioux) arrived at Reno Hill. Red Bear and White Cloud left to join the pony captors. Herendeen’s party met 12 troopers who had been left in the timber.

4:15: Red Bear and White Cloud met three Crows and Black Fox and halted to await the return of the Crows.

4:16: Custer’s battalion arrived on Luce Ridge and halted on the defensive position.

4:18: Yates’ battalion arrived at Ford B. Light firing over the Little Bighorn began. Custer’s battalion saw and heard the firing.

4:20: Benteen’s battalion reached Reno Hill and joined Reno’s battalion. Three Crows and Black Fox arrived. The three Crows left to go downstream, passing Reno Hill, to find Reno’s two Crows. Custer’s battalion saw the Sioux coming up Medicine Tail Coulee to attack. (MF, I think the Gray time of 4.20 for Benteen on Reno Hill is completely wrong and the time to be used is either 2:30 p.m. as per the Official Army Report or 3:45 p.m., which was Wallace’s headquarters time estimate based on his testimony at RCOI which he miscalculated as being 4:00 p.m. Gray’s understanding of the time of events by this stage is so wrong that it is not really possible to comment further. There is no primary source evidence to support Gray’s 4:20 p.m. for this meeting.)

4:23: Yates’ battalion crossed Deep Coulee and arrived on the cutbank unopposed. Custer’s battalion saw Yates start up the west rim of Deep Coulee.

4:25: Red Bear and White Cloud left for Reno Hill when the Crows failed to return. Custer’s battalion pinned down the Sioux with heaving firing. Young Hawk‘s party and Herendeen’s party heard heavy Custer firing downstream. Reno left in search of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin Hodgson‘s body.

4:27: The pack train halted at the flat to close up. 1st Lieutenant Edward Mathey sighted smoke. Custer’s battalion left Luce Ridge to meet Yates downstream.

4:30: Black Fox arrived at Reno Hill. Red Bear and White Cloud arrived for the second time. Young Hawk’s party and Herendeen’s party saw the Sioux leave the upper valley. The three Crows arrived at Sharpshooter Hill and heard Custer’s battalion firing.

4:32: Little Sioux, Strikes Two, Red Star, Boy Chief, One Feather, Bull Stands in Water, Whole Buffalo, Soldier, Stabbed, Bull, White Eagle, Red Wolf, Strikes the Lodge, Charging Bull, and Pretty Face returned to Reno Hill with the ponies from the lone tepee and were greeted by Red Bear and White Cloud. Custer’s battalion arrived at Nye-Cartwright Ridge.

4:33: Yates’ battalion ascended the west rim of Deep Coulee. The Sioux attacked its flanks.

4:38: Custer’s battalion fired at the Sioux on their left flank while negotiating a crossing of upper Deep Coulee.

4:40: Three Crows arrived at Reno Hill, reporting to Red Star that two Crows were killed.

4:45: Young Hawk’s party left for Reno Hill. Three Crows left for their home village.

4:46: Yates’ battalion fought on foot to the reunion point. Custer’s battalion joined Yates.

4:47: The packtrain left the flat and saw the troops on Reno Hill.

4:50: Reno returned from his search for Hodgson and talked with 2nd Lieutenant Charles Varnum. Curley left Custer’s battalion for the mouth of the Bighorn.

4:52: Reno dispatches 2nd Lieutenant Luther Hare to speed up the ammunition mules.

4:55: The sound of Custer’s volleys prompted Captain Thomas B. Weir (left) to ask to move downstream.

4:57: The packtrain was at the North Fork and took Custer’s trail.

To be continued. . . .

This Week in Little Bighorn History

Wilson McConnell was born on January 28, 1839, in New Castle, Pennsylvania. He was a Private in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

William Thomas Craycroft was born in Springfield, Kentucky, on January 28, 1847. He was a First Lieutenant in Company B, but he was on detached service during the battle.

John Curtis Hall was born on January 29, 1852, in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. He was a Private in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight.

Uriah S. Lewis died on January 29, 1914 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was buried in St. Peter’s Cemetery in North Wales, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. He was a Private in Company D who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Michael Martin died at Bear Paw Mountain, Montana, on January 30, 1877, due to a shot in his chest and was buried in the Custer National Cemetery on Crow Agency, Montana.

Frederic Francis Girard (left), an interpreter for the cavalry, died on January 30, 1913, in St. Cloud, Minnesota. He was buried in the Saint Benedict’s Parish Cemetery in Avon, Minnesota.

John C. Creighton, a Private in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight, died in Tacoma, Washington, on January 30, 1935, and was buried in the Tacoma Mausoleum.

Garrett H. Van Allen was born on February 1, 1846, in Bethlehem, New York. He was a Private with Company C who was killed with Custer’s column and was buried on Last Stand Hill.

George Heid died at Fort Totten, Dakota Territory, on February 1, 1887. He was a Private in Company M who was in both the valley and hilltop fights. He was buried in Custer National Cemetery.

James Ezekiel Porter (left) was born on February 2, 1847, in Strong, Maine. He was a First Lieutenant in Company I who was presumed killed and may have been buried on Last Stand Hill.

Dr. Henry Rinaldo Porter was born in New York Mills, New York, on February 3, 1848. He was the Acting Assistant Surgeon during the battle and saw action in the valley and hilltop fights.

Charles Henry Campbell was born on February 3, 1850, in Boone County, Illinois. He was a Private in Company B who rode with the pack train and fought in the hilltop fight.

Levi Madison Thornberry was born in Marietta, Ohio, on February 3, 1853. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

Frederick William Benteen (left) married Catherine Louise Norman on January 7, 1862. He was Captain of Company H and commanded a battalion during the Battle of the Little Bighorn. He performed scouting duty and participated in the hilltop fight, during which he was wounded.

George Blunt was born on January 9, 1846, in Baltimore, Maryland. He was a Private in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

Francis Johnson Kennedy died on January 9, 1924, in St. Paul, Minnesota. His obituary claimed he was prevented from participating in the battle because of a snake bite. That contradicts all other accounts that have him in sick quarters prior to the battle, with the pack train in June, and fighting on Reno Hill during the battle. At some point, Kennedy apparently said he led Capt. Keogh’s horse Comanche. If his obituary is to be believed, he was perhaps the only “Reverse Sole Survivor;” i.e., someone who was at the battle but claimed not to have been.

John W. Burkman (left) was born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, on January 10, 1839. He was a Private with Company L who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

John Dolan (right) married Lena C. Eagan on January 10, 1876. His second marriage to Josephine Fisher was in 1900. He was a Private in Company M who was on detached service during the battle.

Ferdinand A. Culbertson died on January 10, 1889, in Detroit, Michigan, and was buried in the Woodmere Cemetery there. He was a Sergeant in Company A who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Timothy Sullivan died on January 10, 1903, in Washington, D.C., and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a Private with Company L who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

Benjamin Franklin Burdick died on January 11, 1930, in Albany, New York, and was buried in the Beverwyck Cemetery in Rensselaer, New York. He was a Private in Company A who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Bernard Lyons died on January 12, 1901, in Chicago, Illinois, and was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Evanston, Cook County, Illinois. He was a Private with Company F who was in the hilltop fight.

John H. Jordan died in Hartford, Connecticut, on January 12, 1906, and was buried in Old North Cemetery there. He was a Private with Company C who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

Lawrence Murphy died on January 13, 1888, at the Soldiers’ Home in Washington, D.C. He was a Sergeant with Company E, but he was on detached service during the battle.

William Martin died in Knoxville, Tennessee, on January 13, 1900, and was buried there. He was a Private with Company B who participated in the hilltop fight.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

John Curtis Hall was born on January 29, 1852, in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. He was a Private in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight. On January 7, 1888, he was disabled by a gunshot wound in his left thigh and knee. He was married with one son and resided in Warsaw, Indiana, for the last ten years of his life. He died in Warsaw on April 6, 1908, and is said to be buried in a cemetery there.

Other Seventh Cavalry anniversaries this week include:

Michael Martin died at Bear Paw Mountain, Montana, on January 30, 1877, due to a shot in his chest and was buried in the Custer National Cemetery on Crow Agency, Montana.
Frederic Francis Girard, an interpreter for the cavalry, died on January 30, 1913, in St. Cloud, Minnesota. He was buried in the Saint Benedict’s Parish Cemetery in Avon, Minnesota.
John C. Creighton, a Private in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight, died in Tacoma, Washington, on January 30, 1935, and was buried in the Tacoma Mausoleum.
Garrett H. Van Allen was born on February 1, 1846, in Bethlehem, New York. He was a Private with Company C who was killed with Custer’s column and was buried on Last Stand Hill.
George Heid died at Fort Totten, Dakota Territory, on February 1, 1887. He was a Private in Company M who was in both the valley and hilltop fights. He was buried in Custer National Cemetery.
James Ezekiel Porter was born on February 2, 1847, in Strong, Maine. He was a First Lieutenant in Company I who was presumed killed and may have been buried on Last Stand Hill.
Dr. Henry Rinaldo Porter was born in New York Mills, New York, on February 3, 1848. He was the Acting Assistant Surgeon during the battle. He died in Agra, India, and was buried there.
Charles A. Campbell was born on February 3, 1850, in Boone County, Illinois. He was a Private in Company B who rode with the pack train and fought in the hilltop fight. He died in Bismarck.
Levi Madison Thornberry was born in Marietta, Ohio, on February 3, 1853. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights. He died in Palmer, Ohio, in 1902.
Thomas J. Finnegan died on February 4, 1923, in Leavenworth, Kansas. He was a Private in Company F who was on detached service at the time of the battle. His burial location is not known.
William E. Robinson died in Seattle, Washington, on February 4, 1928. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights. His burial location is not known.
Henry M. Brinkerhoff died on February 4, 1933, in Los Angeles, California, and was buried in the National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company G who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

Francis Johnson Kennedy (below, circa 1920) died on January 9, 1924, in St. Paul, Minnesota. His obituary claimed he was “prohibited from participating in General Custer’s famous and ill-fated expedition because of a snake-bite.” That contradicts all other accounts that have him in sick quarters prior to the battle, with the pack train in June, and fighting on Reno Hill during the battle. At some point, Kennedy apparently said he led Capt. Keogh’s horse Comanche. If his obituary is to be believed, he was perhaps the only “Reverse Sole Survivor;” i.e., someone who was at the battle but claimed not to have been.

Other Seventh Cavalry anniversaries this week include:

John W. Burkman was born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, on January 10, 1839. “Old Nutriment” cared for the Custer horses.

John Dolan married Lena C. Eagan on January 10, 1876. His second marriage to Josephine Fisher was in 1900. He was on detached service during the battle.

Timothy Sullivan died on January 10, 1903. He was a Private with Company L who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

George Blunt was born on January 11, 1845, in Baltimore, Maryland. He died of gas asphyxiation at the Joyce Hotel in Baltimore on November 23, 1905.

Benjamin Franklin Burdick died on January 11, 1930, in Albany, New York, and was buried in the Beverwyck Cemetery in Rensselaer, New York.

Bernard Lyons died on January 12, 1901. He was a Private with Company F who was in the hilltop fight.

John Jordan died in Hartford, Connecticut, on January 12, 1906. He was a Private with Company C who participated in the hilltop fight.

Lawrence Murphy died on January 13, 1888, at the Soldiers’ Home in Washington, D.C. He was a Sergeant with Company E, but he was on detached service during the battle.

William Martin died in Knoxville, Tennessee, on January 13, 1900, and was buried there. He was a Private with Company B who participated in the hilltop fight.

James Madison DeWolf 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 was born on January 14, 1846, 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. He was buried in the Custer National Cemetery on Crow Agency, Montana.