This Week in Little Bighorn History

Jacob Adams (left) died in Vincennes, Knox County, Indiana, on May 13, 1934, and was buried in Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery there. He was a Private with Company H who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

Charles Banks died on May 14, 1901, in Highland Falls, New York, and was buried in the United States Military Academy Post Cemetery at West Point. He was a Private in Company L who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

Charles Theodore Wiedman died on May 15, 1921, in Oatman, Arizona, and was buried five days later at the Mountain View Cemetery in Kingman, Arizona. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley fight and was wounded in the hilltop fight,

James Hurd was born in Jessamine County, Kentucky, on May 16, 1850. He was a Private in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight.

George Eiseman was born on May 16, 1854, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a Private in Company C who was killed with Custer’s Column and was buried on Last Stand Hill.

The Seventh Cavalry left Fort Abraham Lincoln on May 17, 1876.

Ferdinand Klawitter (left) died in Nax, North Dakota, on May 17, 1924, and was buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Bismarck, North Dakota. He was a Private in Company B who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Herbert H. Arnold was born on May 19, 1853, in Rocky Hill, Connecticut. He was a Private in Company C who was not present at the battle due to detached service at Fort Abraham Lincoln.

 


This Week in Little Bighorn History

James E. Moore was born on May 6, 1849, in Hebron, Ohio. He was a Farrier with Company B who was with the pack train and later participated in the hilltop fight during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Charles Clinton Barnett was born on May 7, 1857, in Camden, Ohio. He was a Private in Company G who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Treaty of Fort Laramie with the Crow Tribe was concluded on May 7, 1868.

John Fitzgerald died in New York City on May 7, 1900. He was the Farrier for Company C who participated in the hilltop fight.

Soldier, an Arikara Scout, died on May 7, 1921, and was buried in the Indian Scout Cemetery in McLean County, North Dakota. His gravestone states, “Served his country as an Indian Scout.” He was with Reno’s Column, but he did not cross the river.

Good Elk (Wah-nee), an Arikara Scout who was also known as Red Bear, died in Nishu, North Dakota, on May 7, 1934. He participated in the valley fight.

Charles Sanders was born on May 8, 1842, in Altenberg, Germany. He was a Private in Company D who served as the Orderly for Lt. Edgerly and participated in the hilltop fight.

Edward Garlick was born in Chertsey, England, on May 8, 1846. He was the First Sergeant for Company G who was on furlough at the time of the battle.

Jeremiah Campbell died on May 8, 1884, in Decatur, Illinois, and was buried in Westside Cemetery in Moweaqua, Shelby County, Illinois. He was a Sergeant in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show opened in London on May 9, 1887, and featured some Indians who participated in the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Jasper Marshall died in Pleasant Hill, Ohio, on May 9, 1920, and was buried in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery. He was a Private with Company L who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

The Treaty of Fort Laramie with the Northern Cheyenne and Northern Arapahoe was concluded on May 10, 1868.

William Earl Smith died on May 10, 1918, in South Deerfield, Franklin County, Massachusetts, and was buried in the Brookside Cemetery there. He was a Corporal with Company B who was with the pack train and was wounded during the hilltop fight.

Charles Henry Bishop was born in Washington, D.C., on May 11, 1854. He was a Private with Company H who was wounded during the hilltop fight.

Francis Johnson Kennedy (left), who was also known as Francis Johnson, was born on May 12, 1854, in Pacific, Missouri. He was a Private in Company I who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

 

 

 


This Week in Little Bighorn History

George Hose was born on April 29, 1850, in Hesse Cassel, Germany. He was a Corporal with Company K who participated in the hilltop fight during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Latrobe Bromwell died in Washington, D.C., on April 29, 1923, and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company E who was not present at the battle due to illness.

Henry Moore Harrington (left) was born on April 30, 1849, in Albion, New York.

Benjamin Beck died on April 30, 1910, in Camden, New Jersey. He was a Private with the Band, so he was not present on the campaign.

John R. Gray died in Worcester, Massachusetts, on April 30, 1915.

William Ephraim Morris was born on May 1, 1854, in Boston, Massachusetts. He was a Private in Company M who was wounded while participating in the valley and hilltop fights.

Michael C. Caddle died in Bismarck, North Dakota, on May 1, 1919, and was buried at the Fort Rice Cemetery in North Dakota. He was a Sergeant in Company I but was not present at the battle.

Henry August Lange died on May 1, 1928, in Chicago, Illinois, and was buried in the Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery there. He was a Private with Company E who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

Daniel Carroll died in Chicago on May 2, 1910, and was buried in the Mount Hope Cemetery there. He was a Sergeant with Company B at the time of the battle, but he was not present there due to detached service.

Sitting Bull (right) led his people into Canada on May 5, 1877.

John C. Wagoner died on May 5, 1899, in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was the Chief Packer with the pack train and was wounded in the hilltop fight.

Frederick William Myers died in Washington, D.C. on May 5, 1900, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. He was a Private in Company I who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Thomas Joseph CallanThomas Joseph Callan (left) died on May 5, 1908, in Yonkers, Westchester County, New York, and was buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in East Orange, New Jersey. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

 

 

 


This Week in Little Bighorn History

Charles A. Crandall died on April 23, 1885, in New York City and was buried in the Brookdale Cemetery in Brookdale, Pennsylvania. He was a Corporal with Company C who was not present at the Battle of the Little Bighorn because he was on detached service.

William James Bailey (left), who was also known as William Baker, was born in Alexandria, Virginia, on April 24, 1850. He was a Private and served as a scout. He was not present at the battle because he was on the steamer Far West. [Photograph courtesy of Sherian Grant Kennedy.]

George Anson Merritt (right) died on April 24, 1918, in Chicago, Illinois, and was buried in the Elmwood Cemetery and Mausoleum in River Grove, Cook County, Illinois. He was a Private with the Band and, therefore, was not at the battle.

Wilber F. Blair died in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on April 25, 1918, and was buried at the Lewisburg Cemetery in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. He was a Private with Company A who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Jasper Marshall was born on April 26, 1852, in Spring Valley, Ohio. He was a Private with Company L who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

James P. McNally died in St. Paul, Minnesota, on April 26, 1893, and was buried in Calvary Cemetery in St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota. He was a Private with Company I who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

William O’Mann died on April 26, 1901, in Fargo, North Dakota. He was a Private with Company D who participated in the hilltop fight.

Benjamin Franklin Burdick was born on April 27, 1851, in Grafton, Rensselaer County, New York. He was a Private with Company A who was not present at the battle because he was on detached service.

Henry Armstrong “Autie” Reed (left) was born in Monroe, Michigan, on April 27, 1858. He was a civilian who was hired to accompany the Seventh on the campaign. He was the son of Lydia Custer Reed, the sister of George, Tom, and Boston Custer.

 

 

 


This Week in Little Bighorn History

Walter Scott Sterland was born on April 16, 1851, in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England. He was a Private in Company M who was not present at the Battle of the Little Bighorn because he was on detached service at Yellowstone Depot.

Roman Rutten died on April 16, 1925, in Leavenworth, Kansas, and was buried in the national cemetery there. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights and was wounded on Reno Hill.

August Bockerman died on April 17, 1904, in St. Joseph, Missouri. He was a Private in Company A who was not present at the battle because he was on detached service.

Frank W. Sniffin died at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, on April 17, 1931, and was buried in the Chattanooga National Cemetery in Tennessee. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Jacob Horner married Kathryn Stuart at Fort Totten on April 18, 1880. He was a Private in Company K who was not present at the battle because he was on detached service.

Edward Hall was born on April 19, 1851, in Winfield, New York. He was a Private in Company G who was not present at the battle because he was on detached service.

John Foley was born in Dublin, Ireland, on April 20, 1839. He was a Private in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

John E. Quinn, who was also known as John Gorham, was born on April 20, 1852, in Hartford, Connecticut. He was a Private in Company D who was not present at the battle because he was on detached service at Powder River Depot.

James Flanagan died in Mandan, North Dakota, on April 21, 1921, and was buried in the Mandan Union Cemetery. He was a Sergeant in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight.

Edmund H. Burke died on April 21, 1925 in Sumner, Bremer County, Iowa, and was buried in the Mount Calvary Cemetery there. He was a blacksmith for Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

 


This Week in Little Bighorn History

William Alexander was born on April 8, 1838, in Armagh, Ireland. He was a packer with the Quartermaster who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

John R. Gray was born in Troy, New York, on April 8, 1855 and died on April 30, 1915, in Worcester, Massachusetts. He was a Private in Company B who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Stephen L. Ryan died on April 8, 1885, in Bismarck, Dakota Territory, and was buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

James Harrison Smith (left) was born on April 9, 1848, in Madison, Indiana. He was a Private in Company G and one of three James Smiths in the Seventh Cavalry at the time. He was the only one of the three who was not present at the battle because he enlisted in the Seventh on June 20 and was enroute to join his comrades. The other two who shared his name were killed with Custer’s Column and are buried on Last Stand Hill.

Morris Mason Farrar died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on April 9, 1899, and was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Yeadon, Pennsylvania. He was a Private in Company E who participated in the hilltop fight.

William Gavin Capes (right) died on April 10, 1900, in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and was buried in the Allegheny Cemetery there. He was a Sergeant in Company M who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Henry W. B. Mechlin (left) died on April 10, 1926, in Washington, D.C., and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home Cemetery there. He was a blacksmith in Company H who participated in the hilltop fight. He was later awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions there.

Robert Rowland died near the Cannonball River, North Dakota, around April 11, 1879, of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound in his head and was buried in the Keokuk National Cemetery in Keokuk, Lee County, Iowa. He was a Private in Company G who was not present due to detached service at the Powder River Depot.

William E. Robinson was born on April 12, 1842, in County Down, Ireland. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Henry M. Brinkerhoff was born in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on April 12, 1854. He was a Private in Company G who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Daniel Kanipe married Missouri Ann Wycoff Bobo, the widow of L. Edwin Bobo who was killed in the battle, on April 12, 1877.

John McShane died at Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory, on April 13, 1877, and was originally buried in the Post Cemetery there and later reinterred in the Custer National Cemetery in Montana. He was a Private in Company I who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

Joseph H. Green died on April 13, 1922, in Washington, D.C., and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight.

Patrick Carey was born on April 14, 1828, in Tipperary, Ireland. He was a Sergeant in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

John Dolan (left), who was also known as Thomas Brown, was born in Dublin, Ireland, on April 14, 1843. He was a Private in Company M who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

John W. Sweeney died in Kentucky on April 14, 1884. He was a Private in Company F who participated in the hilltop fight.

 


This Week in Little Bighorn History

James W. Butler was born on April 1, 1844, in Limerick, Ireland. He stated he was born in Riverton, New Jersey, when he enlisted, but both his pension application and his death certificate listed Limerick, Ireland. He was a Private in Company F who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Philip McHugh died in Allentown, Pennsylvania, on April 1, 1910, and was buried in Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery there. His gravestone has March 31 as his date of death, but Recommended References (see below) all state April 1. He was a Private in Company L who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

Edward Settle Godfrey (left) died in Cookstown, New Jersey, on April 1, 1932, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. He was a graduate of the United States Military academy at West Point who was the First Lieutenant for Company K. He commanded that company during scouting and the hilltop fight.

Charles Clinton Barnett died in Anacortes, Skagit County, Washington, on April 3, 1935, and was buried there in Grand View Cemetery. He was a Private in Company G who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

John Curtis Hall died in Warsaw, Indiana, on April 6, 1908. He was a Private in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight.

Herbert H. Arnold died on April 6, 1929, in Meriden, Connecticut, and was buried there in Walnut Grove Cemetery. He was a Private in Company C who was not present at the battle due to detached service at Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory.

Charles Ackerman died at Fort Snelling Minnesota, on April 6, 1930. He was buried in the Forest Cemetery, which is now Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Maplewood, Ramsey County, Minnesota. He was a Private in Company K who was not present at the battle due to detached service at the Powder River Depot.

William H. Gilbert married Mary E. Hevener on April 7, 1870, and they had a son named Rudy. William was a Corporal in Company L who died with Custer’s Column and was buried on Last Stand Hill.

Alexander Brown (left) died on April 7, 1884, at Fort Meade, Dakota Territory, and was buried in the National Cemetery there. He was a Sergeant in Company G who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

William G. Hardy died in San Francisco, California, on April 7, 1919, and was buried in the National Cemetery there, the Presidio. He was a trumpeter in Company A who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

 

 


This Week in Little Bighorn History

Myles Walter Keogh (left) was born on March 25, 1840, in County Carlow, Ireland. He was a Captain in command of Company I when he was killed with Custer’s Column during the Battle of the Little Bighorn. His horse Comanche became famous as the “Sole Survivor” of Custer’s Column. For more about Keogh and his life in Ireland, see the articles by Elisabeth Kimber.

Henry Allen Bailey (right) was born in Foster, Providence County, Rhode Island, on March 25, 1852. He was the blacksmith for Company I and was killed with Custer’s Column. He was buried at Last Stand Hill.

Ferdinand A. Culbertson was born on March 26, 1845, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was a Sergeant in Company A who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Aaron Lee Woods died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on March 26, 1902, and was buried there in Mount Moriah Cemetery. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

Frederick Holmstead died on March 27, 1880, at Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory, and was buried in the Custer National Cemetery in Crow Agency, Montana. He was a Private in Company A who participated in the valley and hilltop fights during which he was wounded.

George Anderson married Louisa Kiesel on March 27, 1911, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was a Private in Company K who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

William Carson Williams (left) was born on March 28, 1856, in Wheeling, West Virginia. He was a Private in Company H who was wounded during the hilltop fight.

Harvey Alexander Fox died in Warm Springs, Montana, on March 28, 1913. He was a Private in Company D who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Marcus Albert Reno (right) died on March 30, 1889, in Washington, D.C. He was originally buried there in Mount Olivet Cemetery but was later reinterred at Custer National Cemetery in Montana. He was a Major at the time of the battle in command of a battalion during the valley and hilltop fights.

William Henry Davenport died in Flushing, New York, on March 30, 1934. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

Marcus Henry Kellogg (left) was born on March 31, 1833, in Brighton, Ontario, Canada. He was a civilian newspaper correspondent who was killed with Custer’s column and buried on Last Stand Hill.

John Dolan (right) died at Fort Myer, Virginia, on March 31, 1922, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. He was a Private in Company B who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

 

 


This Week in Little Bighorn History

P. Henry Bishley died on March 18, 1929, in Napa County, California, and was buried in the Veterans Memorial Grove Cemetery in Yountville. He was a Private in Company H who was wounded in the hilltop fight during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Edmund Burlis was born on March 19, 1848, in Klingnau, Switzerland. He was a member of the band, so he was not present at the battle.

George Wesley Stephens died in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 19, 1887, and was buried in the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery in Edina, Knox County, Missouri. He was a Private in Company G who was on detached service at the time of the battle.

Edwin B. Wight died on March 19, 1917, in Togus, Maine, and was buried in the Togus National Cemetery. He was a Private in Company B who was on detached service at the time of the battle.

Charles Alexander Reynolds (left) was born on March 20, 1842, near Monmouth, Illinois. “Lonesome Charley” was a guide who was killed during the retreat from the valley fight.

Adam Wetzel died in Bozeman, Montana, on March 20, 1909, and was buried in the Holy Rosary Cemetery there. He was a Corporal in Company B who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

Dennis Kerr died on March 21, 1890, in Washington, D.C., and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company A who was on detached service at the time of the battle.

James Wynn died at Fort Yates, North Dakota, on March 21, 1892, and was buried in the Post Cemetery there. He later was interred in the Keokuk National Cemetery in Keokuk, Lee County, Iowa. He was a Private in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight.

Patrick Connelly was born on March 22, 1844, in Enniskellen, Tipperary, Ireland. He was a Sergeant in Company H who was wounded in the hilltop fight.

Walter Hoyt died in Middleborough, Kentucky, on March 23, 1903. He was a Private in Company K who was on detached service at the time of the battle.

Thomas F. O’Neill (left) died on March 23, 1914, in Riverdale, Maryland, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. He was a Private in Company G who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Samuel Alcott died in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on March 24, 1926, and was buried in Park Lawn Cemetery there. He was a Sergeant in Company A who was on detached service at the Powder River Depot at the time of the battle.


This Week in Little Bighorn History

Charles A. Windolph (left) died on March 11, 1950, in Lead, South Dakota, and was buried in the Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis. He was the last white survivor of the Battle of the Little Bighorn. He was a Private in Company H who was wounded in the hilltop fight, for which he was awarded the Purple Heart and the Medal of Honor.

George A. Bott was born on March 12, 1853, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to Isaac and Betty Bott. He was a Private in Company A who fought in the valley and hilltop fights.

Thomas Blake died in New York City on March 12, 1927. He was a Private in Company A who fought in the valley and hilltop fights. He died in the city of his birth and was buried in the Cypress Hills National Cemetery in Brooklyn.

George Washington Wylie died on March 13, 1931, in Kansas City, Missouri, and was buried in the Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery in Kansas. He was a Corporal in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight.

Henry Petring married his wife Louisa on March 14, 1881. He was a Private in Company G who participated in the valley and hilltop fights where he was wounded in the eye and hip.

Patrick Corcoran was born in Canada on March 15, 1844. He was a Private in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight. He was wounded in the right shoulder on June 26, 1876.

Thomas Ward Custer was born on March 15, 1846, in New Rumley, Ohio. He was awarded two Medals of Honors for his actions during the Civil War, and he died at Little Bighorn.

Charles WelchCharles H. Welch (left) was born in New York City on March 16, 1845. He was a Private in Company D who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the hilltop fight.

John Weiss was born on March 16, 1849, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was  a Private in Company A who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Daniel Newell was born on March 17, 1847, in County Rascommon, Ireland. He was a Private in Company M who was wounded during the valley and hilltop fights.