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

Joseph Bates, who was also known as John or Joseph 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 at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

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.

Samuel Davis Sturgis (left) was born in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, on June 11, 1822. Colonel Sturgis was an 1846 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point who was Commanding the 7th Regiment of Cavalry at the time of the battle but was on detached service in St. Louis, Missouri, at the time. Unfortunately, his son, Second Lieutenant James Garland Sturgis was with Company E during the battle and was killed.

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 (right) died in Washington, D.C., on June 11, 1910, and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a First Sergeant in Company A who was wounded in his left knee 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. His remains were cremated, and it is not known where they were dispersed. 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 Windolph, 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.

 

 


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

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

James Madison DeWolf (left) 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 (right) was born on January 14, 1846 (gravestone has 1847) 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, and was buried in the Custer National Cemetery on Crow Agency, Montana. He was a Sergeant in Company K who fought on the hilltop.

 

Charles Braden (left) died on January 15, 1919, in Highland Falls, New York, and was buried at the U.S. Military Academy Post Cemetery. He was an 1869 graduate of the Academy who married Jeanette Devin, the daughter of General Thomas Casimer Devin, who was said to be one of the best and most effective Union commanders in the Civil War. Braden was not present at the Battle of the Little Bighorn due to wounds suffered during an Indian attack on his camp on the Yellowstone River on August 11, 1873. He was granted a leave of absence on March 13, 1874, until he retired due to disability on June 28, 1878.

Fremont Kipp (right) died in Washington, D.C., on January 16, 1938, and was buried there in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery. He was a Private in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight.

Young Hawk died on January 16, 1915, in Elbowoods, North Dakota, and was buried in the Indian Scout Cemetery in McLean County, North Dakota. He was an Arikara scout who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Francis Hegner died in Kenockee Township, Michigan, on January 17, 1891. He was a Private in Company F who was on detached service during the battle, so he was not present.

Francis Marion Gibson (left) died on January 17, 1919, in New York City and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. He was the brother-in-law of Donald McIntosh. He was the First Lieutenant of Company H who was on scouting duty and participated in the hilltop fight.

Joseph Carroll was born in New York, New York, on January 19, 1847. He was a member of the band, so he was not present at the battle.

John E. Hammon (right) died on January 19, 1909, in Sturgis, South Dakota, and was buried there in the Bear Butte Cemetery. He was a Corporal in Company G and was in the hilltop and valley fights.

Henry Harrison Davis was born on January 20, 1846, in Bellvernon, Virginia. He was a Private in Company M and was in the hilltop and valley fights. He died around 1905.

John J. Rafter was born in Lansingburgh, New York, on January 20, 1851, and died on January 16, 1927, in Leavenworth, Kansas. He was buried in the Mount Calvary Cemetery in Leavenworth. He was the Sergeant in Company K who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

August B. Siefert died on January 20, 1921, in Highland Park, Illinois, and was buried in the Fort Sheridan Cemetery in Highwood, Illinois. He was a Private with Company K during the hilltop fight.


This Week in Little Bighorn History

Myles Moylan was born on December 17, 1838, in Amesbury, Massachusetts. He was the Captain of Company A who was in command of the company during the valley and hilltop fights. He later was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at Bear Paw Mountain.

George Loyd was a Private in Company G who participated in the valley and hilltop fights. He died in Fort Riley, Kansas, on December 17, 1892, and was buried in the Post Cemetery.

George B. Penwell (left) died on December 17, 1905, at Barnes Hospital in Washington, D.C., and was buried at the Soldiers Home National Cemetery there. He was the Trumpeter for Company K and participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

John Schwerer died at the National Soldiers Home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on December 17, 1913, and was buried at the Wood National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

James O’Neill died on December 17, 1931, in Sawtelle, California, and was buried in the Los Angeles National Cemetery. He was a Private in Company B who was not present at the Battle of the Little Bighorn due to illness.

James C. Blair was born in Camden, New Jersey, on December 18, 1850. He was a Private in Company K who was on detached service during the battle.

Michael P. Madden died in California, Missouri, on December 18, 1883, and was buried in the California City Cemetery there. He was the Saddler for Company K who was wounded during the hilltop fight. Dr. Porter amputated his leg in the field.

William G. Hardy (left) was born on December 20, 1849, on Staten Island, New York. He was a bugler for Company A and fought in both the valley and hilltop fights.

Hiram Wallace Sager died in Spokane, Washington, on December 21, 1907, and was buried at Greenwood Memorial Terrace there. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

Luther Rector Hare (right) died on December 22, 1929, in Washington, D.C, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. He was an 1874 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point who served as the Second Lieutenant of Company K. He participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

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.

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.


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

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

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. 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. 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 U.S. 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 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 died on March 23, 1914, in Riverdale, Maryland. 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.

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. 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 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.

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.

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., 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.