Thornberry – Little Bighorn History

This Week in Little Bighorn History

George Anson Merritt (left) married Marguerite Willison on July 9, 1868, in Newport, Kentucky. They later had six children. He was a Private in the Band so he was not at the battle.

Daniel Newell (right) married Mary Harlow on July 9, 1882, in the Fort Meade Chapel near Sturgis, South Dakota. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights and was wounded.

Michael Keegan died on July 10, 1900, in Chicago, Illinois. He was originally buried in an unmarked grave in the Calvary Cemetery in Evanston, Illinois, and was reinterred in the Fort Sheridan Cemetery in Highwood, Illinois, on November 11, 1999. He was a Private in Company L who was not present at the battle due to detached service at Powder River where he was guarding the company’s property.

Levi Madison Thornberry and Linnie Morris were married on July 11, 1899, in Manetta, Ohio, and they had a son, Levi Gordon Thornberry who was born in 1900. The elder Thornberry was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights during the battle.

William Heyn (left) was born on July 12, 1848, in Bremen, Germany. He was a First Sergeant in Company A who participated in the valley and hilltop fights and was wounded.

Jacob Adams (right) was born on July 12, 1851, in Stark County, Ohio. He was a Private in Company H who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

John H. Meier (left) died on July 12, 1917, in Washougal, Clark County, Washington, and was buried in the Washougal Memorial Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights and was wounded.

Thomas Joseph Callan (left) was born in County Louth, Ireland, on July 13, 1853. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight. He was awarded the Medal of Honor on October 24, 1898, for his actions at the Little Bighorn.

James Wilber Darcy died at Barnes Hospital in Washington, D.C., on July 13, 1920. He was buried three days later in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery under the name James Wilber. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights and was wounded in the left leg on June 26, 1876. See also https://lbha.org/?p=1724.

Henry Drago died on July 14, 1892, in Toledo, Ohio, and was buried in Mount Carmel Cemetery, perhaps in an unmarked grave. He was a Sergeant in Company F who was not present at the battle due to detached service at Fort Abraham Lincoln where he was in charge of the company property and garden.

Thomas W. Stivers was born on July 15, 1850, in Madison County, Kentucky. He was a Private in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight and was one of the water carriers who was awarded the Medal of Honor.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

James Robert Bustard was born on May 21, 1844, in Drumbar, County Donegal, Ireland. He was a Sergeant in Company I who was killed with Custer’s Column.

Thomas Mower McDougall (left) was born at Fort Crawford, Wisconsin, on May 21, 1845. He was a Captain, commanding Company B during the battle, and was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

Hugo Findeisen committed suicide on May 21, 1881, at the Fort Hamilton, New York, hospital and was buried in the Cypress Hills National Cemetery in Brooklyn. He was a Sergeant in Company L who was not present at the battle due to detached service at Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory, where he was in charge of the company garden.

Curley (left) died of pneumonia at the Crow Agency in Montana on May 21, 1923, and was buried in the Custer National Cemetery there. He was a Scout who rode with Custer’s Column.

Isaac Adolph Louis Maria Baumgartner, known as Louis Baumgartner, died on May 22, 1895, in the Anacostia section of Washington, D.C., and was buried at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital East Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company A who participated in the valley and hilltop fights during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

William Carson Williams, Jr. (left) died in Norfolk, Virginia, on May 22, 1919, and was buried in the New Vienna IOOF Cemetery in New Vienna, Ohio. He was a Private in Company H who was wounded in the hilltop fight.

Michael Vincent Sheridan (right) was born on May 24, 1840, in Somerset, Ohio. He was the youngest brother of General Philip Henry Sheridan and often served on his staff. He was the Captain of Company L at the time of the battle, but he was not present due to detached service as aide-de-camp for his brother.

William Clemens Slaper (left) married his wife Sarah on May 25, 1882. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Christian C. Boissen was born in Denmark on May 26, 1840. He was a Private in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

John Shauer was born on May 26, 1852, in Bavaria, Germany. He was a Private in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

Levi Madison Thornberry died in Palmer Township, Ohio, on May 27, 1902, and was buried in Watertown Cemetery in Watertown, Ohio. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

Uriah S. Lewis (left) died on January 29, 1914, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was buried in St. Peter’s Cemetery in North Wales, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. He was a Private in Company D who was not present at the Battle of the Little Bighorn due to detached service at Powder River, Montana.

Frederic Francis Girard (left), an interpreter assigned to Reno’s column during the battle, died on January 30, 1913, in St. Cloud, Minnesota. He was buried in the Saint Benedict’s Parish Cemetery in Avon, Minnesota.

Edward Henry Pickard (right) died in Portland, Oregon, on January 30, 1928, three days after his 74th birthday. He was buried in Lincoln Memorial Park there. He was a Private in Company F who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

John Charles Creighton (left) a Private in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight, died in Tacoma, Washington, on January 30, 1935, and was buried in the Tacoma Mausoleum.

Peter Curtis Hall (right) was born on January 31, 1852, in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. He was a Private in Company D, but reports differ concerning his role in the battle. He may have participated in the hilltop fight.

George Wilhelmus Yates (left) divorced his first wife, Lucretia Irwin, on January 31, 1867, in St. Louis, Missouri, and remarried five years later. He was the Captain of Company F who was killed with Custer’s Column.

Garrett H. Van Allen (right), an alias used by Garrett Houghtaling Niver, was born on February 1, 1846, in Bethlehem, New York. He was a Private with Company C who was killed with Custer’s column and was buried on Last Stand Hill.

George Lawrence Heid died at Fort Totten, Dakota Territory, on February 1, 1887. He was a Private in Company M who was in both the valley and hilltop fights. He was buried in the Custer National Cemetery.

James Ezekiel Porter (left) was born on February 2, 1847, in Strong, Maine. He was a First Lieutenant in Company I who rode with Custer’s column. His body was not located, so he was presumed killed during the battle. He most likely was buried with the soldiers in the mass grave on Last Stand Hill.

Dr. Henry Rinaldo Porter (right) was born in New York Mills, New York, on February 3, 1848. He was the Acting Assistant Surgeon during the battle and saw action in the valley and hilltop fights.

Charles Henry Campbell was born on February 3, 1850, in Boone County, Illinois. He was a Private in Company B who rode with the pack train and fought in the hilltop fight.

Levi Madison Thornberry was born in Marietta, Ohio, on February 3, 1853. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Thomas James Finnegan died on February 4, 1923, in Leavenworth, Kansas, and was buried in the National Cemetery there. (His surname is misspelled on the gravestone.) Thomas Finnegan was a Private in Company F who was on detached service with the wagon train at the Powder River Depot at the time of the battle.

William E. Robinson died in Seattle, Washington, on February 4, 1928, and was buried in the Northern State Hospital Cemetery in Sedro-Woolley, Washington. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Henry M. Brinkerhoff died on February 4, 1933, in Los Angeles, California, and was buried in the National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company G who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

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Michael Keegan died on July 10, 1900, in Chicago, Illinois. He was originally buried in an unmarked grave in the Calvary Cemetery in Evanston, Illinois, and was reinterred in the Fort Sheridan Cemetery in Highwood, Illinois, on November 11, 1999. He was a Private in Company L who was not present at the Battle at the Little Bighorn due to detached service at Powder River where he was guarding the company’s property.

William Heyn (left) was born on July 12, 1848, in Bremen, Germany. He was a First Sergeant in Company A who participated in the valley and hilltop fights and was wounded.

John H. Meier (right) died on July 12, 1917, in Washougal, Clark County, Washington, and was buried in the Washougal Memorial Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights and was wounded.

Edward Hall died in Albany, New York, on July 14, 1914, and was buried the next day in the Lake View Cemetery in Orwell, Vermont. He was a Private in Company G who was not present at the battle due to detached service in the company garden at Fort Abraham Lincoln.

Henry Drago died on July 16, 1892, in Toledo, Ohio, and was buried in Mount Carmel Cemetery (also known as St. Mary’s Cemetery) there. He was a Sergeant in Company F who was not present at the battle due to detached service at Fort Abraham Lincoln where he was in charge of the company property and garden.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

Isaac Adolph Louis Maria Baumgartner, known as Louis Baumgartner, died on May 22, 1895, in the Anacostia section of Washington, D.C., and was buried at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital East Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company A who participated in the valley and hilltop fights during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

William Clemens Slaper (left) married his wife Sarah on May 25, 1882. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Christian C. Boissen was born in Denmark on May 26, 1840. He was a Private in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

John Shauer was born on May 26, 1852, in Bavaria, Germany. He was a Private in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

John Stuart Stuart-Forbes was born on May 28, 1849, in Rugby, England. He was a Private with Company E who was killed with Custer’s Column.

Charles Theodore Wiedman was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on May 28, 1856. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights, during which he was wounded.

William G. Abrams died in Sioux City, Iowa, on May 28, 1901, and was buried in Floyd Cemetery there. He was a Private with Company L who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

Thomas Russell died in Letterman Hospital at the Presidio in San Francisco, California, on May 28, 1926, and was buried in the National Cemetery there. He was a Sergeant in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

Frederic Francis Girard (left), an interpreter assigned to Reno’s column during the Battle of the Little Bighorn, died on January 30, 1913, in St. Cloud, Minnesota. He was buried in the Saint Benedict’s Parish Cemetery in Avon, Minnesota.

Edward Henry Pickard (right) died in Portland, Oregon, on January 30, 1928, three days after his 74th birthday. He was buried in Lincoln Memorial Park there. He was a Private in Company F who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

John Charles Creighton (left) a Private in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight, died in Tacoma, Washington, on January 30, 1935, and was buried in the Tacoma Mausoleum.

Peter Curtis Hall was born on January 31, 1852, in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. He was a Private in Company D, but reports differ concerning his role in the battle. He may have participated in the hilltop fight.

George Walter Yates (left) divorced his first wife, Lucretia Irwin, on January 31, 1867, in St. Louis, Missouri, and remarried five years later. He was the Captain of Company F who was killed with Custer’s Column.

Garrett H. Van Allen (right), an alias used by Garrett Houghtaling Niver, was born on February 1, 1846, in Bethlehem, New York. He was a Private with Company C who was killed with Custer’s column and was buried on Last Stand Hill.

Dr. Henry Rinaldo Porter (right) was born in New York Mills, New York, on February 3, 1848. He was the Acting Assistant Surgeon during the battle and saw action in the valley and hilltop fights.

Charles Henry Campbell was born on February 3, 1850, in Boone County, Illinois. He was a Private in Company B who rode with the pack train and fought in the hilltop fight.

Levi Madison Thornberry was born in Marietta, Ohio, on February 3, 1853. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Thomas James Finnegan died on February 4, 1923, in Leavenworth, Kansas, and was buried in the National Cemetery there. (His surname is misspelled on the gravestone.) Thomas Finnegan was a Private in Company F who was on detached service with the wagon train at the Powder River Depot at the time of the battle.

Otto Emil Voit (left) was born on February 5, 1845, in Baden, Germany. He was a Saddler for Company H who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the hilltop fight, during which he was wounded.

James Harrison Smith (left) died on February 5, 1927, in Chicago, Illinois, and was buried in Elm Lawn Memorial Park in Elmhurst, DuPage County, Illinois. He was a Private in Company G who was enroute to the battle, so he did not participate.

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William Heyn (left) was born on July 12, 1848, in Bremen, Germany. He was a First Sergeant in Company A who participated in the valley and hilltop fights and was wounded.

James Wilber Darcy died at Barnes Hospital in Washington, D.C., on July 13, 1920. He was buried three days later in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery under the name James Wilber. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights and was wounded in the left leg on June 26, 1876.

Edward Hall died in Albany, New York, on July 14, 1914. He was a Private in Company G who was not present at the battle due to detached service in the company garden at Fort Abraham Lincoln.

Henry Drago died on July 14, 1892, in Toledo, Ohio, and was buried in Mount Carmel Cemetery (also known as St. Mary’s Cemetery) there. He was a Sergeant in Company F who was not present at the battle due to detached service at Fort Abraham Lincoln where he was in charge of the company property and garden.

John Nolan died on July 17, 1893, in Newburgh, New York. He was a Corporal in Company K who was not present at the battle due to detached service at Powder River, Montana.

Edward Gustave Mathey (left) died in Denver, Colorado, on July 17, 1915, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. He was the First Lieutenant of Company M who commanded the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

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Michael Vincent Sheridan (left) was born on May 24, 1840, in Somerset, Ohio. He was the youngest brother of General Philip Henry Sheridan and often served on his staff. He was the Captain of Company L at the time of the battle, but he was not present due to detached service as aide-de-camp for his brother.

William Clemens Slaper (right) married his wife Sarah on May 25, 1882. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Christian C. Boisen was born in Denmark on May 26, 1840. He was a Private in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

John Shauer was born on May 26, 1852, in Bavaria, Germany. He was a Private in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

John Stuart Stuart-Forbes was born on May 28, 1849, in Rugby, England. He was a Private with Company E who was killed with Custer’s Column.

Charles Theodore Wiedman was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on May 28, 1856. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights, during which he was wounded.

William G. Abrams died in Sioux City, Iowa, on May 28, 1901, and was buried in Floyd Cemetery there. He was a Private with Company L who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

Thomas Russell died in Letterman Hospital at the Presidio in San Francisco, California, on May 28, 1926, and was buried in the National Cemetery there. He was a Sergeant in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight.

William Winer Cooke (left) was born on May 29, 1846, in Mt. Pleasant, Ontario, Canada. He was a First Lieutenant who served as the Regimental Adjutant. He was killed with Custer’s Column.

Winfield Scott Edgerly (right) was born in Farmington, New Hampshire, on May 29, 1846. He was a Second Lieutenant in Company L who participated in scouting duty and in the hilltop fight.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

Garrett H. Van Allen was born on February 1, 1846, in Bethlehem, New York. He was a Private with Company C who was killed with Custer’s column and was buried on Last Stand Hill.

Dr. Henry Rinaldo Porter (right) was born in New York Mills, New York, on February 3, 1848. He was the Acting Assistant Surgeon during the battle and saw action in the valley and hilltop fights.

Charles Henry Campbell was born on February 3, 1850, in Boone County, Illinois. He was a Private in Company B who rode with the pack train and fought in the hilltop fight.

Levi Madison Thornberry was born in Marietta, Ohio, on February 3, 1853. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Otto Arndt died at The Presidio in San Francisco on February 6, 1917, and was buried in the National Cemetery there. He was in the Band and on detached service at the Powder River Depot during the battle.

William Alexander died in Washington, D.C., on February 6, 1922, and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there. He was a Packer for the Quartermaster and was with the pack track and in the hilltop fight.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

History Mystery: This week you are invited to solve a mystery concerning John Shauer whose death is noted below. An article about him appeared in The Billings Gazette in 1916, claiming he was “wearing a medal of honor for distinguished service during the 10 years of fighting in the Indian wars in the northwest. . . .” Verification of such a medal cannot be found. Please leave a comment if you can verify the award or email the Little Bighorn History Alliance.

William J. Gregg (left) was born on July 5, 1847, in Baltimore, Maryland. He was a Private in Company F who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Walter O. Taylor was born in Scituate, Rhode Island, on July 5, 1854. He was a Blacksmith with Company G who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

James C. Bennett died at 3:00 a.m. on July 5, 1876, aboard the Far West. He was a Private in Company C who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight. He was wounded in the chest during the second day of the battle.

The Far West arrived at Fort Abraham Lincoln at 11:00 p.m. on July 5, 1876.

John Shauer died in Seattle, Washington, on July 7, 1924, and was buried in the Evergreen-Washelli Memorial Park there. He was a Private in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

James Franklin Barsantee died on July 8, 1941, in Boston, Massachusetts. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

George Anson Merritt (left) married Marguerite Willison on July 9, 1868, in Newport, Kentucky. They later had six children. He was a Private in the Band so he was not at the battle.