Nowlan – Little Bighorn History

This Week in Little Bighorn History

William David Nugent (right) was born on November 5, 1852, in Grayson County, Kentucky. He was a Private in Company A who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Olans Hansen Northeg committed suicide at Fort Meade, Dakota Territory, on November 5, 1882, and was buried in the Fort Meade National Cemetery in Sturgis, South Dakota. He was a Sergeant in Company G who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.See also 7th Cavalry Troopers in South Dakota.

William G. Abrams married Elizabeth Adelphine Smith Marine on November 6, 1881. He was a Private in Company L who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight during the battle.

John W. Burkman (left) committed suicide by gunshot in Billings, Montana, on November 6, 1925. He was buried in the Custer National Cemetery in Crow Agency, Montana. He was a Private with Company L who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

James J. Pym was born in Garsington, Oxfordshire, England, on November 7, 1847. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight, during which he was wounded in the right ankle. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle.

Henry P. Jones, also known as John Bush, was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on November 8, 1853. He served as a Private in Company I and participated in the pack train escort and the hilltop fight during the battle.

Crawford Selby (left) married Mary Elizabeth Beck on November 10, 1864, in Sturgis, Minnesota, and they were divorced on December 30, 1874. He was a Saddler with Company G when he was killed in the valley fight. Mary remarried in 1880.

Samuel James Foster died on November 10, 1883, near Manchester, Kentucky. He was a Private in Company A and participated in the valley and hilltop fights. He received a gunshot wound in his right arm during the retreat from the valley. He is said to be buried at the head of Arnett’s Fork on top of the mountain in Clay County, Kentucky.

Henry James Nowlan (left) died on November 10, 1898, in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and was buried in the Little Rock National Cemetery. He was the First Lieutenant on the Quartermaster staff and was not present at the battle due to detached service, serving as the Assistant Quartermaster for General Terry.

William H. Gilbert (left) was born on November 11, 1851, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a Corporal in Company L who was killed with Custer’s Column during the battle.

Happy Veterans Day to all who served!

This Week in Little Bighorn History

Henry James Nowlan (left) 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.

Ferdinand Klawitter (right) was born in Conitz, Berlin, Germany, on June 19, 1836. He was a Private with Company B who was not present at the battle due to detached service, tending the garden at Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory.

Charles William Larned (left) died on June 19, 1911, in Danville, New York, and was buried in the United States Military Academy Post Cemetery at West Point, New York. He was a Second Lieutenant with Company F but was not present at the battle because he was on detached service as an assistant professor of drawing at West Point.

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

Luther Rector Hare (right) married Augusta Virginia Hancock, niece of General Winfield Scott Hancock, on June 21, 1878. They divorced prior to 1906 when she married again. Hare was a Second Lieutenant with Company K who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Frank K. Lombardy died in San Diego, California, on June 21, 1917, and was buried there in the Mount Hope Cemetery. He was a Private with the Band who was at Fort Abraham Lincoln, tending the band garden, after recuperating from a sprained right ankle.

George Custer (left) met with General Alfred Terry and Colonel John Gibbon aboard the steamer Far West on June 21, 1876.

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

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

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

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

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

James Augusta Abos was born on June 24, 1858, in Albany, New York. He was a Private in Company B who was not at the battle because he was awaiting trial for desertion.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

William G. Abrams married Elizabeth Adelphine Smith Marine on November 6, 1881. He was a Private in Company L who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

James J. Pym was born in Garsington, England, on November 7, 1847. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight, during which he was wounded in the right ankle. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle.

William H. Gilbert (right) was born on November 11, 1851, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a Corporal in Company L who was killed with Custer’s Column during the battle.

Stanislas Roy (left) was born in France on November 12, 1846. He enlisted in the Seventh Cavalry in 1869 and served on both the Yellowstone and Black Hills expeditions. He later served as a corporal in Company A in the valley and hilltop fights at Little Bighorn. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle.

William Sadler died of diabetes on November 12, 1921, in Bismarck, North Dakota, and was buried the following day in the Linton Cemetery in Linton, North Dakota. He was a Private in Company. Despite what his obituary stated, he was at Powder River at the time of the battle and not with Reno’s command.

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

Crawford Selby (left) married Mary Elizabeth Beck on November 10, 1864, in Sturgis, Minnesota, and they were divorced on December 30, 1874. He was a Saddler with Company G when he was killed in the valley fight at Little Bighorn. Mary remarried in 1880.

William H. Gilbert (right) was born on November 11, 1851, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a Corporal in Company L who was killed with Custer’s Column during the battle.

Stanislas Roy (left) was born in France on November 12, 1846. He enlisted in the Seventh Cavalry in 1869 and served on both the Yellowstone and Black Hills expeditions. He later served as a corporal in Company A in the valley and hilltop fights at Little Bighorn. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle.

William Sadler died of diabetes on November 12, 1921, in Bismarck, North Dakota, and was buried the following day in the Linton Cemetery in Linton, North Dakota. He was a Private in Company. Despite what his obituary stated, he was at Powder River at the time of the battle and not with Reno’s command.

Patrick Coakley (left) died at the Soldiers’ Home in Washington, D.C., on November 13, 1881, and was buried in the National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company K who was not present at the battle due to detached service as an orderly for General Terry.

Thomas H. Rush died on November 13, 1905, in Elmhurst, Alameda County, California. He was a Sergeant in Company D who was not present at the battle because he was hospitalized at Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory.

William C. Slaper (left) died on November 13, 1931, in Sawtelle, California, and was buried in the Los Angeles National Cemetery. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights. He attended the 50th Anniversary Reunion of the battle in 1926.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

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 during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

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.

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.

Ferdinand Klawitter (left) was born in Conitz, Berlin, Germany, on June 19, 1836. He was a Private with Company B who was not present at the battle due to detached service, tending the garden at Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory.

Charles William Larned (right) died on June 19, 1911, in Danville, New York, and was buried in the United States Military Academy Post Cemetery at West Point, New York. He was a Second Lieutenant with Company F who was not present at the battle because he was an assistant professor of drawing at the United States Military Academy at West Point.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

Crawford Selby married Mary Elizabeth Beck on November 10, 1864, in Sturgis, Minnesota, and they were divorced on December 30, 1874. He was a Saddler with Company G when he was killed in the valley fight. Mary remarried in 1880.

William H. Gilbert (right) was born on November 11, 1851, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a Corporal in Company L who was killed with Custer’s Column during the battle.

William Sadler died of diabetes on November 12, 1921, in Linton, North Dakota, and was buried the following day in the Linton Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company D who was not present due to detached service at Powder River.

William C. Slaper (left) died on November 13, 1931, in Sawtelle, California, and was buried in the Los Angeles National Cemetery. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights. He attended the 50th Anniversary Reunion of the battle in 1926.

Frederic Francis Girard (right) was born on November 14, 1829, in St. Louis, St. Louis County, Missouri. He was an Interpreter on the Quartermaster staff who went missing during the valley fight on June 25, 1876. He rejoined the soldiers on Reno Hill on June 26.

Edward Rood (left) was born in Tioga County, New York, on November 14, 1847. He was a Private in Company E who was killed in the battle.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

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 of the Little Bighorn due to detached service.

John Samuel Ragsdale married Verna 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.

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 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.

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

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

Charles L. Anderson deserted on June 20, 1876, while on detached service at the camp at the mouth of the Powder River. He was a Private in Company C.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

William H. Gilbert (right) was born on November 11, 1851, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a Corporal in Company L who was killed with Custer’s Column during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Stanislas Roy was born in France on November 12, 1846. He enlisted in the Seventh Cavalry in 1869 and served on both the Yellowstone and Black Hills expeditions. He later served as a corporal in Company A in the valley and hilltop fights at Little Bighorn.

William C. Slaper died on November 13, 1931, in Sawtelle, California, and was buried in the Los Angeles National Cemetery. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights. He attended the 50th Anniversary Reunion of the battle in 1926.

Edward Rood (left) was born in Tioga County, New York, on November 14, 1847. He was a Private in Company E who was killed in the battle.

Marcus Albert Reno (right) was born on November 15, 1834, in Carrollton, Illinois. Entire books have been written about Major Reno because he played a significant and controversial role in the battle.

Frank Volkenstine, who was also known as Frank Bowers, was born on November 15, 1844, in Birmingham, Michigan. He was a Private with Company M, but he was not on the campaign because he was dishonorably discharged in Fort Wayne, Michigan, on May 31, 1876.

On November 15, 1877, Frederic Francis Girard married his second wife, Ella Scarborough Waddell. He had previously been married to a Piegan Indian.

Markus Weiss died on November 15, 1879, at Fort Meade in the Dakota Territory and was buried in the Fort Meade National Cemetery in Sturgis, South Dakota. He died of a compound fracture of his neck that resulted from a cave-in of a gravel bank. He was a Private in Company G who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

William David Nugent (left) died on November 15, 1934, in Coffeyville, Kansas, and was buried in the Parotte Cemetery in Cushing, Payne County, Oklahoma. He was a Private in Company A who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

James J. Galvan, who was also known as Michael J. Miller, was born in Liverpool, England, on November 16, 1848. He was a Private in Company L who was killed in the battle.

Hugh McGonigle died on November 16, 1916, in Washington, D.C., and was buried at the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company G who fought in the valley and hilltop fights.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

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

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

Charles L. Anderson deserted on June 20, 1876, while on detached service at the camp at the mouth of the Powder River. He was a Private in Company C.

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

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

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

George Custer (right) met with General Alfred Terry and Colonel John Gibbon aboard the steamer Far West on June 21, 1876.

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

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