This Week in Little Bighorn History

Charles Adelbert 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 because he was on detached service at the Powder River Depot.

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.

George Anson Merritt (left) 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.

Jasper Rudolph 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 during the battle.

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

William R. Oman died on April 26, 1901, in Fargo, North Dakota, and was buried in the Riverside Cemetery there. He was a Private with Company D who participated in the hilltop fight. His third wife was named Cora; a Cora Oman was arrested six months later for selling liquor from a road house in Fargo.

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 at Powder River, Montana.

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 half-sister of George, Tom, and Boston Custer.

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.

 Morris Cain was born on April 29, 1857, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Treaty of Fort Laramie with the Sioux was signed on April 29, 1868.

Latrobe Bromwell died on April 29, 1923, in Washington, D.C., and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery. He was a Private in Company E who was not present at the battle because he became ill on Rosebud Creek and was sent back to the Powder River Depot. Those in his company who went to battle were killed.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

George Blunt (left) was born on January 9, 1846, in Baltimore, Maryland. Some family members consider January 11 his birthdate, but military records indicate January 9. He was a Private in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Francis Johnson Kennedy (right) died on January 9, 1924, in St. Paul, Minnesota, and was buried in Calvary Cemetery there. His obituary claimed he was prevented from participating in the battle because of a snake bite. That contradicts other accounts that have him in sick quarters prior to the battle, with the pack train in June, and fighting on Reno Hill during the battle. At some point, Kennedy apparently said he led Capt. Keogh’s horse Comanche.

John W. Burkman (left) was born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, on January 10, 1839. He was a Private with Company L who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight during the battle.

John Dolan (right) married Lena C. Eagan on January 10, 1876, at Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory. He was a Private in Company M who was on detached service on the steamer Far West during the battle.

Ferdinand Augustus Culbertson (left) died on January 10, 1889, in Detroit, Michigan, and was buried in the Woodmere Cemetery there. He was a Sergeant in Company A who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Timothy Sullivan died on January 10, 1903, in Washington, D.C., and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a Private with Company L who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

Benjamin Franklin Burdick died on January 11, 1930, in Albany, New York, and was buried in the Beverwyck Cemetery in Rensselaer, New York. He was a Private in Company A who was not present at the battle due to detached service at Powder River, Montana.

William M. Harris was born on January 12, 1851, in Madison County, Kentucky. He was a Private in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight. He was award the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle.

Bernard Lyons died on January 12, 1901, in Chicago, Illinois, and was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Evanston, Cook County, Illinois. He was a Private with Company F who was in the hilltop fight during the battle.

John H. Jordan died in Hartford, Connecticut, on January 12, 1906, and was buried in Old North Cemetery there. He was a Private with Company C who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

Lawrence Murphy died on January 13, 1888, at the Soldiers’ Home in Washington, D.C., and was buried in its National Cemetery. He was a Sergeant with Company E, but he was on detached service at Powder River, Montana, during the battle.

William Martin died at Fort McPherson, Georgia, on January 13, 1900. His burial location remains unknown. He was a Private with Company B who participated in the hilltop fight.

James Madison DeWolf (left) was born in Mehoopany, Pennsylvania, on January 14, 1843. He was the Acting Assistant Surgeon for the Seventh who was killed during the battle.

Thomas F. O’Neill (right) was born on January 14, 1846, in Dublin, Ireland, the son of Francis and Mary Kelly O’Neill. He was a Private with Company G who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Andrew Fredericks died from pyemia of his kidneys on January 14, 1881, at Fort Totten, Dakota Territory, and was first buried in the Fort Totten Post Cemetery. He was later reinterred in Custer National Cemetery on Crow Agency, Montana. He was a Sergeant in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

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.

George Anson Merritt (left) 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.

Jasper Rudolph 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 during the battle.

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

William Oman died on April 26, 1901, in Fargo, North Dakota, and was buried in the Riverside Cemetery there. He was a Private with Company D who participated in the hilltop fight. His third wife was named Cora; a Cora Oman was arrested six months later for selling liquor from a road house in Fargo.

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 at Powder River, Montana.

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 half-sister of George, Tom, and Boston Custer.

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.

 Morris Cain was born on April 29, 1857, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Treaty of Fort Laramie with the Sioux was signed on April 29, 1868.

Latrobe Bromwell died on April 29, 1923, in Washington, D.C., and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery. He was a Private in Company E who was not present at the battle because he became ill on Rosebud Creek and was sent back to the Powder River Depot. Those in his company who went to battle were killed.

Henry Moore Harrington (left) was born on April 30, 1849, in Albion, New York. He was a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point who served the Seventh Cavalry as a Second Lieutenant with Company C. He was killed with Custer’s Column, but his body was never positively identified.

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

John Roscoe Gray died in Worcester, Massachusetts, on April 30, 1915. He was a Private in Company B who was not present at the battle due to detached service at Powder River, Montana.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

George Blunt (left) was born on January 9, 1846, in Baltimore, Maryland. He was a Private in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Francis Johnson Kennedy (right) died on January 9, 1924, in St. Paul, Minnesota, and was buried in Calvary Cemetery there. His obituary claimed he was prevented from participating in the battle because of a snake bite. That contradicts other accounts that have him in sick quarters prior to the battle, with the pack train in June, and fighting on Reno Hill during the battle. At some point, Kennedy apparently said he led Capt. Keogh’s horse Comanche.

John W. Burkman (left) was born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, on January 10, 1839. He was a Private with Company L who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight during the battle.

John Dolan (right) married Lena C. Eagan on January 10, 1876, at Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory. He was a Private in Company M who was on detached service on the steamer Far West during the battle.

Ferdinand Augustus Culbertson (left) died on January 10, 1889, in Detroit, Michigan, and was buried in the Woodmere Cemetery there. He was a Sergeant in Company A who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Timothy Sullivan died on January 10, 1903, in Washington, D.C., and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a Private with Company L who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

Benjamin Franklin Burdick died on January 11, 1930, in Albany, New York, and was buried in the Beverwyck Cemetery in Rensselaer, New York. He was a Private in Company A who was not present at the battle due to detached service at Powder River, Montana.

Bernard Lyons died on January 12, 1901, in Chicago, Illinois, and was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Evanston, Cook County, Illinois. He was a Private with Company F who was in the hilltop fight during the battle.

John H. Jordan died in Hartford, Connecticut, on January 12, 1906, and was buried in Old North Cemetery there. He was a Private with Company C who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

Lawrence Murphy died on January 13, 1888, at the Soldiers’ Home in Washington, D.C., and was buried in its National Cemetery. He was a Sergeant with Company E, but he was on detached service at Powder River, Montana, during the battle.

William Martin died in Knoxville, Tennessee, on January 13, 1900, and was buried there. He was a Private with Company B who participated in the hilltop fight.

James Madison DeWolf (left) was born in Mehoopany, Pennsylvania, on January 14, 1843. He was the Acting Assistant Surgeon for the Seventh who was killed during the battle.

Thomas F. O’Neill (right) was born on January 14, 1846, in Dublin, Ireland, the son of Francis and Mary Kelly O’Neill. He was a Private with Company G who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Andrew Fredericks died from pyemia of his kidneys on January 14, 1881, at Fort Totten, Dakota Territory, and was first buried in the Fort Totten Post Cemetery. He was later reinterred in Custer National Cemetery on Crow Agency, Montana. He was a Sergeant in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

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 not present at the battle 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.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

Jasper R. 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 during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

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

William Oman died on April 26, 1901, in Fargo, North Dakota, and was buried in the Riverside Cemetery there. 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 at Powder River, Montana.

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 the half-sister of George, Tom, and Boston Custer, Lydia Custer Reed.

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.

 Morris Cain was born on April 29, 1857, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Treaty of Fort Laramie with the Sioux was signed on April 29, 1868.

Latrobe Bromwell died on April 29, 1923, in Washington, D.C., and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery. He was a Private in Company E who was not present at the Battle of the Little Bighorn because he became ill on Rosebud Creek and was sent back to the Powder River Depot. Those in his company who went to battle were killed.

Henry Moore Harrington (left) was born on April 30, 1849, in Albion, New York. He was a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point who served the Seventh Cavalry as a Second Lieutenant with Company C. He was killed with Custer’s Column, but his body was never positively identified.

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

John Roscoe Gray died in Worcester, Massachusetts, on April 30, 1915. He was a Private in Company B who was not present at the battle due to detached service at Powder River, Montana.

William Ephraim Morris (right) 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 Christopher Caddle (left) 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 due to detached service at Powder River, Montana.

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.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

John W. Burkman (left) was born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, on January 10, 1839. He was a Private with Company L who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight during the Battle of the Little Bighhorn.

John Dolan (right) married Lena C. Eagan on January 10, 1876, at Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory. He was a Private in Company M who was on detached service during the battle.

Ferdinand A. Culbertson died on January 10, 1889, in Detroit, Michigan, and was buried in the Woodmere Cemetery there. He was a Sergeant in Company A who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Timothy Sullivan died on January 10, 1903, in Washington, D.C., and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a Private with Company L who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

Benjamin Franklin Burdick died on January 11, 1930, in Albany, New York, and was buried in the Beverwyck Cemetery in Rensselaer, New York. He was a Private in Company A who was not present at the battle due to detached service at Powder River, Montana.

Bernard Lyons died on January 12, 1901, in Chicago, Illinois, and was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Evanston, Cook County, Illinois. He was a Private with Company F who was in the hilltop fight during the battle.

John H. Jordan died in Hartford, Connecticut, on January 12, 1906, and was buried in Old North Cemetery there. He was a Private with Company C who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

Lawrence Murphy died on January 13, 1888, at the Soldiers’ Home in Washington, D.C., and was buried in its National Cemetery. He was a Sergeant with Company E, but he was on detached service at Powder River, Montana, during the battle.

William Martin died in Knoxville, Tennessee, on January 13, 1900, and was buried there. He was a Private with Company B who participated in the hilltop fight.

James Madison DeWolf (left) was born in Mehonpany, Pennsylvania, on January 14, 1843. He was the Acting Assistant Surgeon for the Seventh who was killed during the battle.

Thomas F. O’Neill (right) was born on January 14, 1846, in Dublin, Ireland, the son of Francis and Mary Kelly O’Neill. He was a Private with Company G who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Andrew Fredericks died from pyemia of his kidneys on January 14, 1881, at Fort Totten, Dakota Territory, and was first buried in the Fort Totten Post Cemetery. He was later reinterred in Custer National Cemetery on Crow Agency, Montana. He was a Sergeant in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

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 not present at the battle 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.

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 a Scout who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

John J. Rafter died on January 16, 1927, in Leavenworth, Kansas, and was buried in the Mount Calvary Cemetery there. He was the Sergeant for Company K who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

Fremont Kipp (left) 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.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

Jasper R. 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 during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

James P. McNally died in St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota, on April 26, 1893, and was buried in Calvary Cemetery in St. Paul. 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.

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.

 Morris Cain was born on April 29, 1857, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Treaty of Fort Laramie with the Sioux was signed on April 29, 1868.

Latrobe Bromwell died on April 29, 1923, in Washington, D.C., and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery. 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. He was a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point who served the Seventh Cavalry as a Second Lieutenant with Company C. He was killed with Custer’s Column, but his body was never positively identified.

Benjamin Beck died on April 30, 1910, in Camden, New Jersey, and was buried in Bethel Memorial Park in Pennsauken, 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. He was a Private in Company B who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

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 due to detached service.

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.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

John Pahl was born on January 5, 1850, in Bavaria, Germany. He was a Sergeant in Company H who was wounded in the hilltop fight during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

George Walter Yates (left) married Lucretia Beaumont Irwin on January 5, 1865. They divorced on January 31, 1867, in St. Louis, Missouri. Yates was the Captain in Company F who commanded a battalion and was killed with Custer’s Column.

Max Hoehn (right), a Private in Company L, stayed with the regimental papers at Powder River, so he did not participate in the Battle of the Little Bighorn. He died of heart problems on January 6, 1911, in Sturgis, South Dakota, and was buried in St. Aloysius Cemetery there.

Frederick William Benteen (left) was Captain of Company H and commanded a battalion during the battle. He performed scouting duty and participated in the hilltop fight, during which he was wounded. He married Catherine Louise Norman on January 7, 1862, in St. Louis, Missouri.

George Blunt (right) was born on January 9, 1846, in Baltimore, Maryland. He was a Private in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

Francis Johnson Kennedy (left) died on January 9, 1924, in St. Paul, Minnesota, and was buried in Calvary Cemetery there. His obituary claimed he was prevented from participating in the battle because of a snake bite. That contradicts other accounts that have him in sick quarters prior to the battle, with the pack train in June, and fighting on Reno Hill during the battle. At some point, Kennedy apparently said he led Capt. Keogh’s horse Comanche.

John W. Burkman (right) was born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, on January 10, 1839. He was a Private with Company L who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

John Dolan (left) married Lena C. Eagan on January 10, 1876, at Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory. He was a Private in Company M who was on detached service during the battle.

Ferdinand A. Culbertson died on January 10, 1889, in Detroit, Michigan, and was buried in the Woodmere Cemetery there. He was a Sergeant in Company A who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Timothy Sullivan died on January 10, 1903, in Washington, D.C., and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a Private with Company L who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

Benjamin Franklin Burdick died on January 11, 1930, in Albany, New York, and was buried in the Beverwyck Cemetery in Rensselaer, New York. He was a Private in Company A who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

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.

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

Max Hoehn (left), a Private in Company L, stayed with the regimental papers at Powder River, so he did not participate in the Battle of the Little Bighorn. He died of heart problems on January 6, 1911, in Sturgis, South Dakota, and was buried in St. Aloysius Cemetery there.

Frederick William Benteen (right) was Captain of Company H and commanded a battalion during the battle. He performed scouting duty and participated in the hilltop fight, during which he was wounded. He married Catherine Louise Norman on January 7, 1862.

George Blunt was born on January 9, 1846, in Baltimore, Maryland. He was a Private in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

Francis Johnson Kennedy (left) died on January 9, 1924, in St. Paul, Minnesota, and was buried in Calvary Cemetery there. His obituary claimed he was prevented from participating in the battle because of a snake bite. That contradicts all other accounts that have him in sick quarters prior to the battle, with the pack train in June, and fighting on Reno Hill during the battle. At some point, Kennedy apparently said he led Capt. Keogh’s horse Comanche. If his obituary is to be believed, he was perhaps the only “Reverse Sole Survivor;” i.e., someone who was at the battle but claimed not to have been.

John W. Burkman was born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, on January 10, 1839. He was a Private with Company L who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

John Dolan (left) married Lena C. Eagan on January 10, 1876. His second marriage to Josephine Fisher was in 1900. He was a Private in Company M who was on detached service during the battle.

Ferdinand A. Culbertson died on January 10, 1889, in Detroit, Michigan, and was buried in the Woodmere Cemetery there. He was a Sergeant in Company A who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Timothy Sullivan died on January 10, 1903, in Washington, D.C., and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a Private with Company L who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

Benjamin Franklin Burdick died on January 11, 1930, in Albany, New York, and was buried in the Beverwyck Cemetery in Rensselaer, New York. He was a Private in Company A who was not present at the battle due to detached service.

Bernard Lyons died on January 12, 1901, in Chicago, Illinois, and was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Evanston, Cook County, Illinois. He was a Private with Company F who was in the hilltop fight.

John H. Jordan died in Hartford, Connecticut, on January 12, 1906, and was buried in Old North Cemetery there. He was a Private with Company C who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.