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

William H. Gilbert (left) was born on November 11, 1851, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a Corporal in Company L who was killed with Custer’s Column during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Stanislas Roy (right) 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, for bringing water to the wounded during the battle. He made two trips to the river under heavy fire.

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

Patrick Coakley, (left) died at the Soldiers’ Home in Washington, D.C., on November 13, 1881, and was buried in the 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 at the battle because he was hospitalized at Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory.

William C. Slaper died on November 13, 1931, in Sawtelle, California, and was buried in the Los Angeles National Cemetery. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Frederic Francis Girard (right) was born on November 14, 1829, in St. Louis, St. Louis County, Missouri. On November 15, 1877, he married his second wife, Ella Scarborough Waddell. He had previously been married to a Piegan Indian. He was an Interpreter on the Quartermaster staff who went missing during the valley fight on June 25, 1876. He rejoined the soldiers on Reno Hill on June 26.

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

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

Frank Volkenstine was born on November 15, 1844, in Birmingham, Michigan. He was a Private in Company M who was not present at the battle. He had been dishonorably discharged on May 31, 1876, in Fort Wayne, Michigan.

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

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

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


This Week in Little Bighorn History

John E. Armstrong was born on November 4, 1836, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a Saddler for Company A who was killed in the valley fight during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

William David Nugent (left) was born on November 5, 1852, in Grayson County, Kentucky. He was a Private in Company A who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Olans H. Northeg committed suicide at Fort Meade, Dakota Territory, on November 5, 1882. He was buried in the Fort Meade National Cemetery in Sturgis, South Dakota. He was a Sergeant in Company G who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

William G. Abrams married Elizabeth Adelphine Smith Marine on November 6, 1881. He was a Private in Company A who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

John W. Burkman (left) committed suicide by gunshot in Billings, Montana, on November 6, 1925. He was buried in the Custer National Cemetery in Crow Agency, Montana. He was a Private with Company L who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

Henry P. Jones, also known as John Bush, was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on November 8, 1853. He served as a Private in Company I and participated in the pack train escort and the hilltop fight at Little Bighorn.

Crawford Selby married Mary Elizabeth Beck on November 10, 1864, in Sturgis, Minnesota, and they were divorced on December 30, 1874. He was a Saddler with Company G when he was killed in the valley fight at Little Bighorn.

Henry James Nowlan (left) died on November 10, 1898, in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and was buried in the Little Rock National Cemetery. He was the First Lieutenant on the Quartermaster staff and was not present at the battle due to detached service.

 

 

 


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

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.

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, who was also known as Charles White, 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 (left) 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.


This Week in Little Bighorn History

Henry W. B. Mechlin (left) was born in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, on October 14, 1851. He was a blacksmith for Company H who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the hilltop fight.

George Weaver (right) died on October 14, 1886, at Fort Meade, Dakota Territory, and was buried in the National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

John Ryan died in West Newton, Massachusetts, on October 14, 1926, and was buried in the Calvary Cemetery and Mausoleum in Waltham, Massachusetts. He was the First Sergeant for Company M who was in the valley and hilltop fights.

William James Bailey (left) died on October 14, 1933, in St. Cloud, Florida, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. He was a Scout who was on the steamer Far West, so he was not present at the battle. He was also known as William Baker.

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.

Ernest Albert GarlingtonErnest 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 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, and was buried in the National Cemetery there. 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.


This Week in Little Bighorn History

A couple of new links are being introduced this week. If a death date is linked, click it to see the death notice or obituary for that person. Burials are also linked by the name of the cemetery. Both types of links should open in a new window so you will not lose this page. If you know of obituaries or burials I have missed, please let me know by writing to lbha@cox.net.

John Lattman died of a bleeding ulcer on October 7, 1913, in Rapid City, South Dakota, and was buried in the Elk Vale Cemetery, east of Piedmont, South Dakota. He was a Private with Company G who participated in the valley and hilltop fights during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Henry Petring (left) died in Brooklyn, New York, on October 7, 1917, and was buried in the Cypress Hills National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company G who participated in the valley and hilltop fights, during which he was wounded in the eye and hip.

James Boggs died on October 7, 1921, in Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, and was buried in the Shoops Cemetery there. H was a Private in Company H who received a medical discharge prior to the campaign.

John G. Tritten was born on October 8, 1846, in Canton Rune, Switzerland. He was a Sergeant on the staff of the Seventh Cavalry who was not present at the Battle of the Little Bighorn due to detached service.

Stanton Hook died in Denver, Colorado, on October 8, 1898, and was buried in the Fairmont Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company A who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Edward Settle Godfrey (left) was born on October 9, 1843, in Kalida, Ohio. He was a First Lieutenant in command of Company K during scouting and the hilltop fight.

Henry Bishley was born in Chicago, Illinois, on October 9, 1846. He was a Private in Company H who was wounded during the hilltop fight.

Adam Wetzel was born on October 9, 1846, in St. Louis, Missouri. He was a Corporal with Company B who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

Hairy Moccasin (right) died in Lodge Grass, Big Horn County, Montana, on October 9, 1922, and was buried in Saint Ann’s Cemetery there two days later. He was a scout who rode with Custer’s Column and participated in the hilltop fight.

Frank Berwald died on October 9, 1936, in Highland Falls, New York, and was buried in the Sacred Heart Cemetery there. He was a Private with Company E who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

George Anson Merritt was born in Stonington, Connecticut, on October 10, 1840. He was a Private in the band that stayed behind, so he was not in the battle.

Algernon Emory Smith married Nettie B. Bower on October 10, 1867. He was a First Lieutenant in command of Company E who was killed with Custer’s Column.

Harry McBratney died on October 12, 1892, near Mandan, North Dakota. He was a Packer with the pack train who participated in the hilltop fight.

 


This Week in Little Bighorn History

A number of men who survived the Battle of the Little Bighorn were killed fifteen months later on September 30, 1877, during the battle at Snake Creek, Montana.

James Montgomery Bell was born on October 1, 1837, in Williamsburg, Blair County, Pennsylvania. He was the First Lieutenant for Company D who was not present at the Battle of the Little Bighorn because he was on leave.

Joseph Milton died in Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada, on October 1, 1904. He was a Private in Company F who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Wilbur F. Blair died on October 2, 1891, in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, and was buried there in the Lewisburg Cemetery. He was a Private in Company A who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Patrick Carey died in Washington, D.C., on October 3, 1893, and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a Sergeant in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Frank Braun died on October 4, 1876, at Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory, during an operation on the gunshot wounds he received during the battle. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley fight and was wounded in the face and left thigh during the fight on Reno Hill. He was originally buried at the Fort Abraham Lincoln Cemetery but was later reinterred in the Custer National Cemetery on Crow Agency, Montana.

Abram B. Brant (left) died at Camp J. D. Sturgis, Dakota Territory, on October 4, 1878, from a gunshot wound to the abdomen and was buried at Fort Meade National Cemetery. He was a Private in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight. He was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously one day after his death for his actions on Reno Hill.

Black Fox died on October 5, 1936, and was buried in the Holy Family U. S. Scouts Cemetery in Sanish, Mountrail County, North Dakota. He was an Arikara Scout who was not present during the battle.

Jacob Horner (right)was born in New York City on October 6, 1855. He was a Private in Company K who was not present during the battle due to detached service.

 

 

 


This Week in Little Bighorn History

Charles Henry Bischoff was born in Bremen, Germany, on September 23, 1855. He was a Private in Company C who was not present at the Battle of the Little Bighorn due to detached service.

Daniel NewellDaniel Newell (left) died of gangrene on September 23, 1933, at Hot Springs, South Dakota, and was buried in Bear Butte Cemetery in Sturgis, South Dakota. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley fight and was wounded in the hilltop fight.

Jahn Zametzer died at the U.S. Soldiers’ Home in Washington, D.C., on September 24, 1877, and was buried in the National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company M who was not present at the Battle of the Little Bighorn due to illness.

John Robert Cooper died on September 24, 1903, in Harris, Iowa, and was buried in the Fairview Cemetery in Ocheyedan, Osceola County, Iowa. He was a Private in Company H who was wounded in the hilltop fight.

George Hose died at Lake Nebagamon, Wisconsin, on September 24, 1924, and was buried in the Lake Nebagamon Cemetery there. He was a Corporal in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

Joseph K. Ricketts married Alice Williams on September 25, 1884, with whom he had a son named Bryan. Joseph was a Wagoner with Company M who was not present at the battle due to detached service at Powder River, Montana.

John E. Quinn died on September 26, 1932, in Brookline, Massachusetts. He was a Private in Company D who was not present at the battle due to detached service at the Powder River Depot.

Thomas Benton Weir (left)  was born in Nashville, Ohio, on September 28, 1838. He was the Captain in command of Company D during scouting and the hilltop fight.

Samuel Davis Sturgis (right) died on September 28, 1889, at St. Paul, Minnesota, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. He was the Colonel commanding the Regiment, but he was not present due to detached service at St. Louis, Missouri. His son, Lt. James Garland Sturgis, was killed with Custer’s Column.

Patrick Connelly died on September 28, 1909, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was a Sergeant with Company H who was wounded in the hilltop fight.

Conrad Farber died in St. Louis, Missouri, on September 29, 1896. He was a Private in Company I who was not present at the battle due to detached service.


This Week in Little Bighorn History

Henry Charles Weihe was born on September 16, 1847, in Saxony, Germany. He was a Sergeant in Company M who participated in the valley fight and was wounded during the hilltop fight during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Algernon Emory Smith (left) was born on September 17, 1842, in Newport, New York. He was a First Lieutenant in command of Company E who died with Custer’s Column.

The Treaty of Fort Laramie was concluded on September 17, 1851. When it was brought before the Senate for ratification, certain amendments were made that required the assent of the Tribes. The assent was not obtained, so its validity was questioned.

James Montgomery Bell died in Hermosa Beach, California, on September 17, 1919, and was buried in the San Francisco National Cemetery (The Presidio). He was a First Lieutenant of Company D who was on leave at the time of the battle.

James Lawler died on September 18, 1877, at Canyon Creek, Montana Territory. He was a Private in Company H who was not present at the Battle of the Little Bighorn due to detached service.

Ferdinand Widmayer died in Riverton, New Jersey, on September 18, 1913, and was buried in the Epworth United Methodist Cemetery in Palmyra, New Jersey. He was a Private in Company M who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

George W. Glenn died on September 18, 1914, in Richmond, Virginia, and was buried in the Hampton National Cemetery in Hampton, Virginia. He was a Private in Company H who participated in the hilltop fight.

David McWilliams committed suicide on September 19, 1882, at Fort Meade, South Dakota, and was buried in the Fort Meade National Cemetery. He was a Private in Company H who was not present at the battle due to being shot in his leg while aboard the Far West.

George Anderson died of lip cancer in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on September 19, 1912, and was buried the next day in the Minneapolis Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery, which is also known as Layman’s Cemetery. He was a Private in Company K who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Alexander Browne Bishop died on September 19, 1935, in Brooklyn, New York, and was buried in The Evergreens Cemetery in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York. He was a Corporal in Company H who was wounded in the hilltop fight.

John A. Bailey was born in Jo Daviess County, Illinois, on September 20, 1847. He was a Saddler with Company B who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

Jacob Horner (left) died of a respiratory infection on September 21, 1951, in Bismarck, North Dakota, and was buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company K who was not present at the battle due to detached service.