Merrill – Page 2 – Little Bighorn History

This Week in Little Bighorn History

Lewis Merrill (left) was born in Pennsylvania on October 28, 1834. He was an 1855 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and a Major on the Seventh Cavalry staff who was not present at the Battle of the Little Bighorn due to detached service.

Frank K. Lombard was born on October 28, 1848, in Naples, Italy. He was a Private in the Band, so he was not present at the battle.

William Millard Caldwell died on October 30, 1913, in Clearfield, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and was buried in the Old Town Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company B who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Anton Seibelder was born in Lichtenvoorde, Germany, on October 31, 1828. He was a Private in Company A who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Boston Custer (left) was born on October 31, 1848, in New Rumley, Ohio. He was the brother of George and Thomas Custer who was serving as a Guide on the campaign.

James Madison DeWolf married Fannie J. Downing on October 31, 1871.

William Thomas Craycroft (right) died on October 31, 1906, in Dallas, Texas, and was buried in West Hill Cemetery in Sherman, Texas. He was an 1869 graduate of the United States Military Academy who was a First Lieutenant in Company B. He was not present at the battle due to detached service.

William Braendle, of Hermann, Mo., was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, November 1, 1855. He was a Private in Company C who was not present due to detached service at Yellowstone Depot.

James E. Moore died on November 1, 1894, in Union, South Carolina. He was a Farrier with Company B who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

Charles Camillus DeRudio (left) in died on November 1, 1910, in Los Angeles, California, and was buried in the San Francisco National Cemetery. He was a First Lieutenant in Company E who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

William Kane died in Washington, D.C., on November 2, 1879, and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company C who was not present at the battle due to illness.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

John Hackett died on February 25, 1904, at Fort Sheridan, Illinois, of heart disease and was buried in the cemetery there. He was a Private in Company G in the valley and hilltop fights during the Battle of the Little Bighorn and was wounded in his left arm.

George Walter Yates (left) was born on February 26, 1843, in Albany, New York. He was the Captain of Company F who was killed with Custer’s Column.

Andrew J. Moore was born in New Egypt, New Jersey, on February 26, 1854. He was a Private in Company G who fought in the valley and hilltop fights and was killed.

Charles Albert Varnum (right) died on February 26, 1936, in San Francisco, California, and was buried in the National Cemetery there. He commanded the scouts during the battle and was wounded while participating in the valley and hilltop fights.

Joseph K. Ricketts was born on February 27, 1850, near Morrow, Ohio, and he died on February 26, 1909, in Dayton, Ohio, and was buried in the Green Castle Cemetery there. He was a wagoner in Company M, but he was on detached service at Powder River, Montana, during the battle.

Augustus Louis DeVoto was born in Genoa, Italy, on February 27, 1851. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

William Millard Caldwell was born on February 27, 1857, in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. He was a Private with Company B who was not present during the battle due to detached service.

Lewis Merrill (left) died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on February 27, 1896, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. He was an 1855 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and served the 7th Cavalry staff as a Major, but he was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Jacob Hetler died on February 27, 1944, in Greenwich, Ohio, and was buried in the Adario Cemetery in Adario, Ohio. He was a Private with Company D who was wounded in the hilltop fight.

George Washington Wylie was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on February 28, 1848. He was a Corporal in Company D who fought in the hilltop fight.

John O’Neill died on March 2, 1888, in Washington, D.C., and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

Ludwick St. John was born in Columbia, Missouri, on March 3, 1848. He was a Private in Company C who was killed with Custer’s Column.

Thomas F. McLaughlin died on March 3, 1886, in Jamestown, North Dakota, and was buried in the Jamestown State Hospital Cemetery. He was a Sergeant in Company H who was wounded during the hilltop fight.

Henry Rinaldo Porter, M.D., (left) died at the Hotel Metropole in Agra, India, on March 3, 1903, and was buried in the Cantonment Cemetery there. A memorial monument for Dr. Porter sits next to his wife’s grave in Oberlin, Ohio.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

Jacob Huff was born on October 22, 1850 in Zweibrucken, Bavaria, Germany. He was a Private in the Band, so he was not present at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Edmund Burlis died in St. Louis, Missouri, on October 22, 1924, and he was buried in the Park Lawn Cemetery in Lemay, St. Louis County, Missouri. He was a Private in the Band, so he was not present at the battle.

Henry Charles Weihe died of heart disease on October 23, 1906, at Fort Meade, South Dakota, and was buried in the Old Post Cemetery there. He was a Sergeant in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights and was wounded.

David Manning died in New York City on October 25, 1910, and was buried in Cypress Hills National Cemetery in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York. He was a Private in Company L who participated in the hilltop fight.

Edward Gustave Mathey was born on October 27, 1837, in Besancon, France. He was the First Lieutenant for Company M who commanded the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

William A. Curtiss died in Helena, Lewis and Clark County, Montana, on October 27, 1888. He was a Sergeant in Company F who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

Bernard O’Neill died on October 27, 1896, in Washington, D.C. He was a Private in the Band, so he was not present at the battle.

Lewis Merrill was born in Pennsylvania on October 28, 1834. He was a Major on the staff who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Frank K. Lombard was born on October 28, 1848, in Naples, Italy. He was a Private in the Band, so he was not present at the battle.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

George Walter Yates, left, was born on February 26, 1843, in Albany, New York. He was the Captain of Company F who was killed with Custer’s Column. He was originally buried on the battlefield but was moved to Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery in Kansas in July 1877.

Other Seventh Cavalry milestones this week include:

Andrew J. Moore was born in New Egypt, New Jersey, on February 26, 1854. He was a Private in Company G who fought in the valley and hilltop fights and was killed. He was buried on Last Stand Hill.

Charles Albert Varnum died on February 26, 1936, in San Francisco, California, and was buried in the National Cemetery there. He commanded the scouts during the battle, fought in the valley and hilltop fights, and was wounded.

Joseph K. Ricketts was born on February 27, 1850, near Morrow, Ohio, and he died on February 26, 1909, in Dayton, Ohio. He was a wagoner in Company M, but he was on detached service at Powder River, Montana, during the battle.

Augustus Louis DeVoto was born in Genoa, Italy, on February 27, 1851. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

William M. Caldwell was born on February 27, 1857, in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. He was a Private with Company B who was not present during the battle due to detached service.

Lewis Merrill died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on February 27, 1896. He was an 1855 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, but Major Merrill was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Jacob Hetler died on February 27, 1944, in Greenwich, Ohio, and was buried in the Adario Cemetery in Adario, Ohio. He was a Private with Company D who was wounded in the hilltop fight.

George Washington Wylie was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on February 28, 1848. He was a Corporal in Company D who fought in the hilltop fight.

John O’Neill died on March 2, 1888, in Washington, D.C., and was buried in the U.S. Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

Ludwick St. John was born in Columbia, Missouri, on March 3, 1848. He was a Private in Company C who was killed with Custer’s Column and buried on Last Stand Hill.

Henry Rinaldo Porter, M.D., died at the Hotel Metropole in Agra, India, on March 3, 1903, and was buried in the Cantonment Cemetery there. A memorial monument for Dr. Porter sits next to his wife’s grave in Oberlin, Ohio.

Thomas Henry French was born on March 4, 1843, in Baltimore, Maryland, and he died on March 27, 1882, at Planters House in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He was originally buried in the National Cemetery there but was later moved to Holy Rood Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

John C. Creighton, who was also known as Charles Chesterwood, was born in Massillon, Ohio, on March 4, 1850. He was a Private in Company K who was in the hilltop fight.