This Week in Little Bighorn History

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. Unfortunately, his son, Second Lieutenant James Garland Sturgis, was with Company E during the battle and was killed.

Edward D. Pigford (left) 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. According to the April 1910 federal census, he was working as an office clerk, and he and his wife Sarah had been married for just one year. He was a First Sergeant in Company A who was wounded in his left knee during the valley and hilltop fights.

Peter Eixenberger (left) was born on June 12, 1860, in Munich, Germany. He was a Private with the Band, so he was at Powder River, Montana, during the battle. See also 7th Cavalry Troopers in South Dakota.

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 at the Powder River camp.

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 was lynched for arson 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 was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight during the battle.

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 because he was a laborer for the quartermaster department at Fort Abraham Lincoln.

Alexander Downing (left) married Ida Martha Conway in Miami County, Ohio, on June 14, 1882. He was a Private in Company F who was not present at the battle due to detached service at Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory.

John Samuel Ragsdale married Vena Bells Owens on June 14, 1926, in Richmond, Indiana, but they divorced after 1940. He was a Private in Company A who was not present at the battle due to detached service at Powder River, Montana.

Christopher Pendle (left) was born on June 15, 1849, in Bavaria, Germany. He was a Private in Company E who was not present at the battle due to serving as a hospital nurse on the Far West.

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 illness.

Charles Windolph (right), who was also known as Charles Wrangel, married his first wife, 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 (left) died on June 17, 1919, in Havre, Montana, and was buried in Harlem Cemetery in Harlem, Montana. He was a Scout who participated in the valley and hilltop fights during the battle.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

Edmond Burlis (left) was born on March 19, 1848, in Klingnau, Switzerland. He was a member of the band, so he was on detached service at Powder River, Montana.

George Wesley Stephens died in Knox 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 Powder River, Montana, during the battle.

Edwin Butler 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 Powder River, Montana, during 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 during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

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.

Denis 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 Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory, tending the company garden at the time of the battle.

James Wynn (gravestone has Winn) died at Fort Yates, North Dakota, on March 21, 1892. He is said to have frozen to death on the ice of the Missouri River. He originally was buried in the Fort Yates Post Cemetery, but 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 C. White (left) who was also known Patrick Connelly, was born on March 22, 1844, in Tipperary, Ireland. He was a Sergeant in Company H who was wounded on his left shoulder during the hilltop fight of the battle.

Thomas F. O’Neill (right) died on March 22, 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.

Walter Hoyt died in Middleborough, Kentucky, on March 23, 1893. He was a Private in Company K who was on detached service at Powder River, Montana, at the time of the battle.

Edward T. Grayson, who was also known as Edward Wilson, died on March 24, 1881, at Fort Adams in Newport, Rhode Island, and was buried in the North Burial Ground in Providence, Rhode Island. He was a Private with Company G who was not present at the battle due to detached service with the regimental headquarters fatigue party.

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 the late 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.

Thomas Murphy died on March 25, 1909, in Washington, D.C., and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

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

Peter Eixenberger (left) was born on June 12, 1860, in Munich, Germany. He was a Private with the Band, so he was at Powder River, Montana, when the Battle of the Little Bighorn took place.

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 at the Powder River camp.

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 was lynched for arson 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 was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight during the battle.

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 because he was a laborer for the quartermaster department at Fort Abraham Lincoln.

Alexander Downing (left) married Ida Martha Conway in Miami County, Ohio, on June 14, 1882. He was a Private in Company F who was not present at the battle due to detached service at Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory.

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

Christopher Pendle  (left) was born on June 15, 1849, in Bavaria, Germany. He was a Private in Company E who was not present at the battle due to serving as a hospital attendant in the field.

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 illness.

Charles Windolph (right), who was also known as Charles Wrangel, married his first wife, 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 (left) died on June 17, 1919, in Havre, Montana, and was buried in Harlem Cemetery in Harlem, Montana. He was a Scout who participated in the valley and hilltop fights during the battle.

Henry James Nowlan (right) 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 serving as the assistant quartermaster for Gen. Terry’s expedition.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

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 during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

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.

Denis 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 Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory, tending the company garden at the time of the battle.

James Wynn (gravestone has Winn) died at Fort Yates, North Dakota, on March 21, 1892. He is said to have frozen to death on the ice of the Missouri River. He originally was buried in the Fort Yates Post Cemetery, but 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 C. White (left) who was also known Patrick Connelly, was born on March 22, 1844, in Tipperary, Ireland. He was a Sergeant in Company H who was wounded on his left shoulder during the hilltop fight of the battle.

Thomas F. O’Neill (right) died on March 22, 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.

Walter Hoyt died in Middleborough, Kentucky, on March 23, 1893. He was a Private in Company K who was on detached service at Powder River, Montana, at the time of the battle.

Edward T. Grayson, who was also known as Edward Wilson, died on March 24, 1881, at Fort Adams in Newport, Rhode Island, and was buried in the North Burial Ground in Providence, Rhode Island. He was a Private with Company G who was not present at the battle due to detached service with the regimental headquarters fatigue party.

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 the late 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.

Thomas Murphy died on March 25, 1909, in Washington, D.C., and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

Ferdinand Augustus Culbertson (left) 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.

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

Note: New information is in bold.

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 of the Little Bighorn because he was under arrest in Louisiana following his desertion.

William M. Harris, a Medal of Honor recipient, 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 Nicholasville, Kentucky.

John James Carey was born on June 7, 1853, in Troy, Rensselaer County, New York. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight during the battle.

John Jordan Crittenden III (left) was born in Russellville, Logan County, 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 (left) died in Ree, North Dakota, on June 7, 1929, and was buried as Red Star in the Indian Scout Cemetery in McLean County, North Dakota. His gravestone states his death date as May 12, 1929, but the June date appears to be the accepted date among researchers. He was an Arikara Scout who was with Reno’s Column when it crossed the river.

Bear Comes Out
 (Matokianapa), who was also known as Comes the Bear and Old Caddoo, died in a drunken brawl, according to Fred Girard, 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. He was most likely in the hospital at Fort Abraham Lincoln, but he later claimed to have been guarding the wagon train at the Powder River camp.

Michael Christopher Caddle (left)was born on June 9, 1844, in New York City. He was a Sergeant in Company I who was not present at the battle due to detached service at Powder River, Montana.

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 during the battle.

Elmer Babcock (left) 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 (right) 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. Unfortunately, his son, Second Lieutenant James Garland Sturgis, was with Company E during the battle and was killed.

Edward D. Pigford (left) 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 (left) was born on June 12, 1860, in Munich, Germany. He was a Private with the Band, so he was at Powder River, Montana, when the battle took place.

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 at the Powder River camp.

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.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

Denis 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 Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory, tending the company garden at the time of the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

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 C. White, who was also known Patrick Connelly, was born on March 22, 1844, in Tipperary, Ireland. He was a Sergeant in Company H who was wounded on his left shoulder during the hilltop fight of the battle.

Thomas F. O’Neill (left) died on March 22, 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.

Walter Hoyt died in Middleborough, Kentucky, on March 23, 1893. He was a Private in Company K who was on detached service at Powder River, Montana, at the time of the battle.

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 the late Elisabeth Kimber.

Henry Allen Bailey (left) 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.

Thomas Murphy died on March 25, 1909, in Washington, D.C., and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

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.

Thomas Henry French (left) died on March 27, 1882, at Planters House, in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and was originally buried in the National Cemetery there. He was exhumed on March 4, 1891, and reinterred in Holy Rood Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

Nathan T. Brown was a Private in Company L who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight. He died in battle against the Nez Perce in 1877 and was originally buried at Fort Assinniboine in Montana. He was reinterred in the Custer National Cemetery on March 27, 1905.

Petter Gannon was a Sergeant in Company B who was not present at the battle due to detached service. He died at Fort Assinniboine in 1886 and was originally buried there. He was reinterred in the Custer National Cemetery on March 27, 1905.

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 daily duties as a laborer in the quartermaster department at Fort Abraham Lincoln.

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

John James Carey was born on June 7, 1853, in Troy, Rensselaer County, New York. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

John Jordan Crittenden III (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 (left) died in Ree, North Dakota, on June 7, 1929, and was buried as Red Star in the Indian Scout Cemetery in McLean County, North Dakota. His gravestone states his death date as May 12, 1929, but the June date appears to be the accepted date among researchers. He was an Arikara Scout who was with Reno’s Column when it crossed the river.

Bear Comes Out
 (Matokianapa), who was also known as Comes the Bear and Old Caddoo, died in a drunken brawl, according to Fred Girard, 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 New York City. 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 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 during the battle.

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

Samuel Davis Sturgis (right) 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. Unfortunately, his son, Second Lieutenant James Garland Sturgis, was with Company E during the battle and was killed.

Edward D. Pigford (left) 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, so 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.