This Week in Little Bighorn History

Morris Mason Farrar was born on July 30, 1846, in Amesbury, Massachusetts. He was a Private in Company E who participated in the hilltop fight.

Jacob Hetler was born on Mansfield, Ohio, on August 2, 1852. He was a Private in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight and was wounded.

Alexander Downing died on August 2, 1884, in Pleasant Hill, Miami County, Ohio, and was buried in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company F who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Charles W. Campbell died in Fort Bayard, New Mexico, on August 2, 1906. He was a Private in Company G who was with the pack train and was wounded in the hilltop fight.

William Earl Smith was born on August 3, 1853, on Rouses Point, New York. He was a Private in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight.

James Akers died in Washington, D.C., on August 3, 1881, and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a Corporal in Company G who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Charles Stillman Ilsley was born on August 4, 1836, in Maine. He was a Captain for Company E who was not present due to detached service.

Thomas Murray died at the Soldiers’ Home in Washington, D.C., on August 4, 1888, and was buried in the National Cemetery there. He was a Sergeant with Company B who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight where he was wounded.

James M. Rooney died on August 5, 1918, in Yankton, South Dakota, and was buried in the State Hospital Cemetery there. He was a Private with Company F who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

Henry N. B. Witt died in Santa Monica, California, on August 5, 1929. He was a Private for Company K who was not present due to detached service.


This Week in Little Bighorn History

Owen Hale was born on July 23, 1843, in Troy, New York. He was a Captain in Company K who was not present due to detached service.

Ernst Meineke died in Columbia Station, Virginia, on July 24, 1907, and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. He was a Private in Company F who was not present due to detached service.

Richard A. Wallace drowned on July 25, 1876, near the mouth of the Bighorn River in Montana Territory while attempting to cross the river for picket duty. He was eventually interred in the mass grave on Last Stand Hill. He was a Private with Company B who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

Thomas James Stowers died in Baxter, Tennessee, on July 25, 1933, and was buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery near Baxter. He was a Private with Company B who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

Theodore W. Goldin (left) was born on July 25, 1858, in Avon Township, Wisconsin. He was a Private with Company G who participated in the valley and hilltop fights. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during the battle.

August B. Siefert was born in Darmstadt, Germany, on July 26, 1850. He was a Private with Company K who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

Henry Haack died on July 27, 1881, at the Asylum for the Insane in Washington, D.C., and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Virginia. He was a Private with Company H who participated in the hilltop fight.

Aloys Bohner died in Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa, on July 27, 1887, and was buried in Aspen Grove Cemetery in Burlington. He was a Trumpeter with Company D who participated in the hilltop fight.

Jack MahoneyJohn J. “Jack” Mahoney (left) died on July 27, 1918, in Sturgis, South Dakota, and was buried in the St. Aloysius Cemetery there. He was a Private with Company C who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

Lansing A. Moore died in Rawlins, Wyoming, on July 27, 1931, and was buried in the Rawlins Cemetery there. He was a Private with Company F who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

William Gibbs was born on July 28, 1845, in Manchester, England. He was a Private with Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.


This Week in Little Bighorn History

Henry Drago died on July 16, 1892, in Toledo, Ohio, and was buried in Mount Carmel Cemetery there. He was a Sergeant in Company F who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

John S. Wells died in Dickinson, North Dakota, on July 16, 1932. He was a Sergeant in Company E who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

John Nolan died on July 17, 1893, in Newburgh, New York. He was a Corporal in Company K who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Edward Gustave Mathey died in Denver, Colorado, on July 17, 1915, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. He was the First Lieutenant of Company M who commanded the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

Jonathan J. Callahan was born on July 18, 1853, in Salem, Massachusetts. He was a Corporal in Company K who was killed with Custer’s Column.

John B. McGuire, Jr., was born in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, on July 18, 1854. He was a Private in Company C who rode with the pack train and was wounded in the hilltop fight.

Nikolaus Klein died on July 18, 1904, in Cleveland, Ohio. He was a Private in Company F who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Daniel Alexander Kanipe (left) died in Marion, North Carolina, on July 18, 1926, and was buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery there. He was a Sergeant in Company C who was with Custer’s Column and in the hilltop fight.

John Weiss died on July 17, 1927, in Durango, Colorado, and was buried in the Greenmount Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company A who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Richard Winick Corwine was born in Maysville, Mason County, Kentucky, on July 19, 1844. He was a Private in Company A who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

David Cooney died on July 20, 1876, at Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory. He was original buried in the Post Cemetery there and was later reinterred in the Custer National Cemetery on the Crow Agency in Montana. He was a Private in Company I who rode with the pack train and was in the hilltop fight.

William A. Marshall was born in Germany on July 21, 1851. He was a Private in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight.

John A. Reed died on July 21, 1897, at Fort Sisseton, South Dakota. He was originally buried in the Post Cemetery there and was later reinterred in the Custer National Cemetery on the Crow Agency in Montana. He was a Private in Company G who was in the valley and hilltop fights.


This Week in Little Bighorn History

Daniel Newell
Daniel Newell  (left) married Mary Harlow on July 9, 1882, in the Fort Meade Chapel near Sturgis, South Dakota. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights and was wounded.

Michael Keegan died on July 10, 1900, in Chicago, Illinois. He was originally buried in an unmarked grave in the Calvary Cemetery in Evanston, Illinois, and was reinterred in the Fort Sheridan Cemetery in Highwood, Illinois, on November 11, 1999. He was a Private in Company L who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Levi Madison Thornberry and Linnie Morris were married on July 11, 1899, in Manetta, Ohio, and they had a son, Levi Gordon Thornberry who was born in 1900. The elder Thornberry was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

William Heyn was born on July 12, 1848, in Bremen, Germany. He was a First Sergeant in Company A who participated in the valley and hilltop fights and was wounded.

Thomas Joseph Callan
Thomas Joseph Callan (left) was born in County Louth, Ireland, on July 12, 1853. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight. He was awarded the Medal of Honor on October 24, 1898, for his actions at the Little Bighorn.

John H. Meier died on July 12, 1917, in Washougal, Clark County, Washington, and was buried in the Washougal Memorial Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights and was wounded.

James Wilber Darcy died at Barnes Hospital in Washington, D.C., on July 13, 1920, and was buried three days later in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights and was wounded in the left leg on June 26, 1876.

William O’Mann was born on July 14, 1849, in Hamilton County, Indiana. He was a Private in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight.

Edward Hall died in Albany, New York, on July 14, 1914. He was a Private in Company G who was not present at the battle due to detached service.


This Week in Little Bighorn History

Happy Fourth of July!

On July 4, 1876, news of the Battle of the Little Bighorn was reaching the east coast where Philadelphia was hosting the Centennial Exhibition.

Two members of the 1876 Seventh Cavalry were born on Independence Day (see the flag below). Other Seventh Cavalry milestones this week include:

George H. King died on July 2, 1876, in Pease Bottom, Montana Territory, where he was buried. In 1917, he was reinterred in the Custer National Cemetery on Crow Agency. He was a Corporal with Company A who was wounded during the valley and hilltop fights.

Thomas W. Stivers died in Kingston, Kentucky, on July 2, 1877, and was buried in the Richmond Cemetery in Richmond, Madison County, Kentucky. He was a Private in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight.

Francis Johnson Kennedy (left) married Mary E. Hogan (1961-1913) on July 2, 1882. He was a Private with Company I who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

John Hackett and Esther Smith were married on July 2, 1902. He was a Private in Company G who was wounded in the left arm during the valley and hilltop fights.

William W. Lasley died on July 2, 1924, in Washington, D.C., and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a Private with Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

John Eaton Tourtellotte was born on July 3, 1933, in Windham, Connecticut. He died on July 22, 1891, in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and was buried in the Tourtellotte Cemetery in Thompson, Connecticut. He was the Captain of Company G who was not present during the battle due to detached service.

William Montell George, a Private in Company K, died aboard the Far West on July 3, 1876, of wounds he received during the hilltop fight. He was buried the following day beside the Yellowstone River in Montana Territory.

Peter Orlando Barry died on July 3, 1907, in Morgan, Maryland, and was buried in the Morgan Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery in Woodbine, Carroll County, Maryland. He was a Private in Company B who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Thomas Mower McDougall died in Brandon, Vermont, on July 3, 1907, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. He was a Captain commanding Company B who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

Michael John Walsh died on July 3, 1932, in Newark, New Jersey. He was a Private with Company H who was not present at the battle due to confinement.

William J. Logue was born on July 4, 1841, in New York, New York. He was a Private in Company L who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

George C. Morris was born in Georgetown, Delaware, on July 4, 1851. He was a Corporal with Company I who was killed with Custer’s Column.


William J. Gregg was born on July 5, 1847, in Baltimore, Maryland. He was a Private in Company F who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

Walter O. Taylor was born in Scituate, Rhode Island, on July 5, 1854. He was a Blacksmith with Company G who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

James C. Bennett died at 3:00 A.M. on July 5, 1876, aboard the Far West. He was a Private in Company C who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight. He was wounded in the chest during the second day of the battle.

John Shauer died in Seattle, Washington, on July 7, 1924, and was buried in the Evergreen-Washelli Memorial Park there. He was a Private in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

James Franklin Barsantee died on July 8, 1941, in Boston, Massachusetts. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.


This Week in Little Bighorn History

In honor of all who lost their lives on June 25 and 26, 1876, at the Battle of the Little Bighorn: Soldiers, Warriors, Civilians, and Scouts.

Jacob Adams was born on June 25, 1852, in Stark County, Ohio. He was a Private with Company H who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

Edward Diamond was born in Stoughton, Massachusetts, on June 25, 1854. He was a Private with Company H who participated in the hilltop fight.

Cornelius Bresnahan died on June 25, 1901, probably at his residence in North Cambridge, Massachusetts, and was buried in the North Cambridge Catholic Cemetery. He was a Private with Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

Olans H. Northeg, whose birth name was Olaus Hansen Nordeeg, was born on June 26, 1841, in Nannestad, Akershus County, Norway. He was a Sergeant with Company G who was in the valley and hilltop fights.

George Daniel WallaceGeorge Daniel Wallace (left) was born in York County, South Carolina, on June 29, 1849. He was a Second Lieutenant who commanded Company G during the valley and hilltop fights.

 

William B. Crisfield married Mary Pauline Blanchstone on June 29, 1865. They had three sons. He was a Private with Company L who was killed with Custer’s Column.

Benjamin Hubert Hodgson

 

Benjamin Hubert Hodgson (left) was born on June 30, 1848, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a Second Lieutenant for Company B who was the Acting  Adjutant for Reno’s Column. He was killed in the valley fight.

 

 

 


This Week in Little Bighorn History

Henry James Nowlan was born on June 18, 1837, on the Corfu Ionian Islands. He was a First Lieutenant with the Quartermaster who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Ferdinand Klawitter was born in Conitz, Berlin, Germany, on June 19, 1836. He was a Private with Company B who was not present due to detached service.

Charles William Larned died on June 19, 1911, in Danville, New York, and was buried in the United States Military Academy Post Cemetery at West Point, New York. He was a Second Lieutenant with Company F who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Charles Albert Varnum was born in Troy, New York, on June 21, 1849. He was a Second Lieutenant in Company A who commanded the scouts. He participated in the valley and hilltop fights and was wounded.

Luther Rector Hare married Virginia Hancock on June 21, 1878. He was a Second Lieutenant with Company K who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Frank K. Lombard died in San Diego, California, on June 21, 1917. His burial location remains unknown. He was a Private with the Band and was not present at the battle.

Frederick William Benteen (left) died on June 22, 1898, in Atlanta, Georgia. He was originally buried in the Westview Cemetery in Atlanta and was reinterred in Arlington National Cemetery in November 1902. He was the Captain of Company H who commanded a battalion during the battle. He led a scouting party and was wounded during the hilltop fight.

Charles H. Welch died in LaSalle, Colorado, on June 22, 1915, and was buried in the Evans Cemetery in Evans, Colorado. He was a Private in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle.

Carl August Bruns was born on June 23, 1830, in Brunswick, Germany. He was a Private with Company E who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

John Brightfield was born in Dearborn County, Indiana, on June 23, 1853. He was a Private with Company C who was killed with Custer’s Column.

Fred Stressinger was born on June 24, 1852, in Ripley County, Indiana. He was a Corporal in Company M who was killed in the valley fight.


This Week in Little Bighorn History

Edward D. Pigford was born on June 11, 1856, in West Elizabeth, Pennsylvania. He was a Private in Company M who was wounded during the valley and hilltop fights.

William Heyn died in Washington, D.C., on June 11, 1910, and was buried in the U.S. Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a First Sergeant in Company A who was wounded during the valley and hilltop fights.

Peter Eixenberger was born on June 12, 1860, in Munich, Germany. He was a Private with the Band; therefore, he was not present at the battle.

Peter Gannon died at Fort Assinniboine, Montana Territory, on June 12, 1886. He was first buried in a cemetery there and later reinterred in the Custer National Cemetery on the Crow Agency, Montana. He was a Sergeant in Company B who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Michael Murphy died on June 12, 1904, at the Soldiers’ Home in Washington, D.C., and was buried in the National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

John H. Day died in Monroe, Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, on June 13, 1894, and was buried in the Old City Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company H who participated in the hilltop fight.

George Anderson was born on June 14, 1841, in St. Catherines, Canada. He was a Private in Company K who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

John Samuel Ragsdale married Verna Bell Owen on June 14, 1926, but they divorced after 1940. He was a Private in Company A who was not present at the battle due to detached service.


Christopher Pendle  (left) was born on June 15, 1849, in Bavaria, Germany, and died on June 4, 1923, in Gardenville, Washington. He was a Private in Company E who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

James O’Neill was born in Liverpool, England, on June 15, 1851. He was a Private in Company B who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

 

Charles A. Windolph (left), who was also known as Charles Wrangel, married Mary Jones on June 15, 1882. He was a Private in Company H who was wounded in the hilltop fight. He was awarded both the Medal of Honor and the Purple Heart for his service during the battle.

George B. Herendeen died in Havre, Montana, on June 17, 1919, and was buried in the Harlem Cemetery in Harlem, Montana. He was a Scout who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

 

This Week in Little Bighorn History

Black Calf (Hani-katil), who was also known as Boy Chief, died on June 4, 1922, in Armstrong, North Dakota. He was an Arikara Scout who was with Reno’s Column during the battle. He was buried with the name Boy Chief in the Indian Scout Cemetery in McLean County, North Dakota.

Crawford Selby was born on June 5, 1845, in Ashland County, Ohio. He was a Saddler with Company G who was killed during the retreat from the valley fight.

Michael John Walsh was born in Ireland on June 6, 1852. He was a Private in Company H who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

William M. Harris died on June 6, 1885, in Berea, Madison County, Kentucky, during a gunfight. He was a Private in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight. He was buried in the Ballard/Jarman Cemetery in Bobtown, Madison County, Kentucky, and was later moved to the Camp Nelson National Cemetery in Nicholsville, Kentucky.

John Jordan Crittenden (left) was born in Frankfort, Kentucky, on June 7, 1854. He was a Second Lieutenant with Company L who was killed with Custer’s Column.

Willis B. Wright was born on June 7, 1859, in Oskaloosa, Iowa. He was a Private with Company C who was killed with Custer’s Column.

Strikes the Bear died in Ree, North Dakota, on June 7, 1929. He was an Arikara Scout who was with Reno’s Column when it crossed the river.


Bear Comes Out (Matokianpap), who was also known as Comes the Bear and Old Caddoo, died on June 8, 1878, at Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory, and was buried in the Indian Scout Cemetery in McLean County, North Dakota. He was a Scout with Reno’s Column but did not cross the river.

Michael Crowe died at Fort Yates in the Dakota Territory on June 8, 1883, and was buried in Keokuk National Cemetery in Keokuk, Iowa. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

James W. Butler died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on June 8, 1924, and was buried in the National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company F who was not present due to detached service.

Michael C. Caddle was born on June 9, 1844, in Dublin, Ireland. He was a Sergeant in Company I who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Joseph Bates, who was also known as John Murphy, was born in Providence, Rhode Island, on June 10, 1838. He was a Private with Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Elmer Babcock was born on June 10, 1856, in Pharsalia, Chenango County, New York. He was a Private in Company L who was killed with Custer’s Column.