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.

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. While on Reno Hill, he received a gunshot wound in his spine and died the same day, June 26, 1876.

Joseph K. Ricketts died on February 26, 1909, in Dayton, Ohio, one day before his birthday, February 27, 1850. He 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.

Charles Albert Varnum (left) died on February 26, 1936, in San Francisco, California, and was buried in the National Cemetery there. He was the Second Lieutenant for Company A. He commanded the scouts during the battle, fought in the valley and hilltop fights, and was wounded in his leg.

John Gardner, who was also known as William Gardner,  was born on February 27, 1845, in Brockville, Ontario, Canada. He was a Private in Company F who was killed with Custer’s Column 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.

Lewis Merrill (left) died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on February 27, 1896, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. 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 at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Jacob Hetler (left) 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 participated in the hilltop fight.

James Dougherty was born on February 29, 1856, in Oxford. New Jersey. He was a Corporal in Company B and was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

Joseph Patrip died on March 1, 1934, at the Muscowpetung Indian Reservation in Canada. He was a Sioux who participated in the battle and followed Sitting Bull into Canada.

Edwin Daniel Eldridge, who was also known as Edwin Grant, was born on March 2, 1852, in Newburgh, Maine. He was a Private in Company A who was not at the battle. He had been discharged from Fort Abraham Lincoln for medical reasons.

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 during the battle.

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 during the battle. He was buried in the mass grave 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.

James J. Pym married Sarah Underwood on March 3, 1887, in Lake City, Minnesota. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight during which he was wounded in his right ankle. He was awarded the Medal of Honor on October 5, 1878, for his actions during the battle.

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. During the battle, Dr. Porter was the Acting Assistant Surgeon on Staff, and he participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Thomas Henry French (left) was born on March 4, 1843, in Baltimore, Maryland. He was the Captain of Company M and commanded his men in the valley and hilltop fights. On what would have been his 48th birthday, March 4, 1891, his body was exhumed from Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery, and he was reinterred in Holy Rood Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

John Charles Creighton (left), 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.

Patrick Corcoran died on March 4, 1922, at Barnes Hospital on the grounds of the Soldiers’ Home in Washington, D.C., and was buried in the National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company K who was wounded in his right soldier during the hilltop fight.