Windolph – Little Bighorn History

This Week in Little Bighorn History

Roman Rutten (who was also known as Roman Ruttenauer, Rutler, Rullin, and Bolten) was born on August 13, 1846, in Baden, Germany. He was a Private in Company M who fought in the valley and hilltop fights. He was wounded on Reno Hill.

Morris Cain died in Colville, Washington, on August 13, 1906. He was a Private in Company M who fought in the valley and hilltop fights.

Thomas Carmody died of cancer on August 13, 1912, in New York City and was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Woodside, Queens. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

Fred Ernest Allan, who was also known as Alfred Ernest Allen, was born in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, England, on August 14, 1847. He was a Private in Company C who was killed while fighting with Custer’s Column.

Charles H. Houghtaling died on August 14, 1881, at Fort Lewis, Colorado, and was originally buried in the Post Cemetery there. He was later reinterred at the Fort McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell, Nebraska. He was a Private in Company D who participated in the hilltop fight.

James Hill was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on August 15, 1833. He was the First Sergeant in Company B who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight during the battle.

Charles A. Windolph (left) also known as Charles Wrangel, married his second wife, Mathilda Lulow, on August 16, 1884, in Sturgis, Dakota Territory. He was a Private in Company H who suffered a wound during the hilltop fight for which he received the Purple Heart. He was also the recipient of the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during the battle.

William Etzler married Mary Ann Hackett on August 17, 1877, in Bismarck, Dakota Territory. He was a Private in Company L who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

Edwin Philip Eckerson died on August 17, 1885, in Hays, Kansas, and was buried in the Mount Allen Cemetery there. He was a 2nd Lieutenant in Company L who was enroute to the battle on June 25 and 26, 1876.

Christian Methfessel, who enlisted as Frederick Smith, died on August 18, 1905, in his hometown of Muhlhausen, Germany. He was a Private in Company K who was not present at the battle due to detached service at Powder River, Montana.

Jacob Huff died in Tilton, Illinois on August 18, 1929, and was buried in the North Grove Cemetery in Celina, Ohio. He was a Private in the band, which did not accompany the troopers to the battle.

Charles Theodore Wiedman married Florence Marston on August 19, 1882, but they divorced in March 1908. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights where he suffered a gunshot wound in his left thigh.

Thomas Sherborne died on August 19, 1910, in Washington, D.C., and was buried in the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery there under the name Thomas Shereborne. He was a Private in the band, which did not accompany the troopers to the battle.

Black Elk (left) died on August 19, 1950, on the Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota, and was buried in the St. Agnes Catholic Cemetery in Manderson. He was a member of Big Road’s Band and claimed two scalps during the Reno fight.

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

Thomas Joseph Callan (left) died in Yonkers, New York, on March 5, 1908, and was buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in East Orange, New Jersey. 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 for his actions there. His obituary, which was printed in numerous newspapers across the country, stated a different reason for the award. The man deserved better.

Thomas Patrick Downing was born on March 6, 1856, in Limerick, Ireland. He was a Private in Company I who was killed with Custer’s Column during the battle.

John Foley died at Barnes Hospital in Washington, D.C., on March 6, 1926, and was buried in the Soldier’s Home National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

James Calhoun (left) married Margaret Emma Custer on March 7, 1872. Maggie Custer lost her husband, three brothers (George, Tom, and Boston) and a nephew, Autie Reed, during the battle.

Edwin Philip Eckerson was born on March 8, 1850, in Fort Vancouver, Washington Territory. He was a Second Lieutenant in Company L who was en route at the time of the battle, so he was not present.

Charles William Larned (left) was born in New York, New York, on March 9, 1850. He was an 1870 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. He was a Second Lieutenant in Company F who was on detached service, serving as an assistant professor of drawing at West Point, at the time of the battle.

Climbs the Bluff died of inflammation of the lungs on March 9, 1880, at Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory, and was buried in the Indian Scout Cemetery. He was an Arikara Scout on detached service. At the time of the battle, he was carrying messages from the Yellowstone River Depot to the 7th Cavalry, so he did not participate in the battle.

James Boggs was born on March 10, 1846, in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He was a Private in Company H who was not present at the battle. He was on the 7th Cavalry roster at the time of the battle, but he had been discharged for medical reasons on May 15, 1876.

Morris Hedding Thompson (left) was born in Waukegan, Illinois, on March 10, 1852. He was a Private in Company E who was not present during the battle due to detached service at Fort Abraham Lincoln where he was in charge of the company garden.

Charles A. Windolph (right) died on March 11, 1950, in Lead, South Dakota, and was buried in the Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis. He was the last white survivor of the battle. He was a Private in Company H who was wounded in the hilltop fight for which he was awarded the Purple Heart, and he helped get water for the wounded for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

John E. Hammon (left) was born in Lynchburg, Ohio, on December 4, 1857. He was a Corporal in Company G who participated in the valley and hilltop fights during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

John McCabe died on December 4, 1891, in Washington, D.C. He was a Private in Company B who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

George Arthur Rudolph died on December 4, 1924, in Eddyville, New York, and was buried in Saint Peters Cemetery in Rosendale, Ulster County, New York. He was a Private in the Band, so he was on detached service at Powder River, Montana.

Charles Henry Bishop died in East St. Louis, Illinois, on December 4, 1929, and was buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Fairview Heights, St. Clair County, Illinois. He was a Private in Company H who was wounded during the hilltop fight.

John Samuel Ragsdale died on December 4, 1942, in Dayton, Ohio, and was buried in the Dayton National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company A who was not present at the battle due to detached service at Powder River, Montana.

George Armstrong Custer (left) was born on December 5, 1839, in New Rumley, Ohio. He was an 1861 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point who was in command during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Isaac Fowler (right) of Company C died on December 5, 1881, in Union City, Indiana, and was buried in the Union City Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company C who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

Martin McCue died on December 6, 1923, at Barnes Hospital 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.

Henry August Lange was born in Hanover, Germany, on December 7, 1851. He was a Private in Company E who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

William Ephraim Morris (left) married Sarah Angela Kench on December 7, 1879. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights during which he was wounded.

Andrew Humes Nave (right) died on December 7, 1924, in Knoxville, Tennessee, and was buried in Highland Memorial Cemetery there. He was a Second Lieutenant with Company I who was not present at the battle due to illness.

Frederick Holmstead was born on December 9, 1849, in Copenhagen, Denmark. He was a Private in Company A who participated in the valley and hilltop fights and was wounded.

John Samuel Ragsdale was born in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, on December 9, 1850. He was a Private in Company A who was not present at the battle due to detached service at Powder River, Montana.

Charles A. Windolph (left) was born on December 9, 1851, in Bergen, Germany. He was a Private in Company H who was wounded in the hilltop fight. He was awarded the Purple Heart and the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle.

Thomas Gordon (left) was born in Boston on December 9, 1853. He was a Private in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

Thomas Benton Weir (right) died on Governors Island, New York, on December 9, 1876, less than six months after the battle. He was the Captain of Company D who participated in scouting and in the hilltop fight. He was originally buried on Governors Island but was moved to the Cypress Hills National Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.

Jean Baptist Desire Gallenne (left) married Josephine Joly on December 9, 1878, in Greta, Louisiana. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights.

Martin Kilfoyle died on December 9, 1894, in Washington, D.C. He was a Private in Company G who was on detached service at Powder River, Montana, during the battle.

Henry Jackson (left) died in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, on December 9, 1908, and is buried in the National Cemetery there. He was a First Lieutenant in Company F who was not at the battle due to detached service in Washington, D.C.

John Sivertsen (right) was born on December 10, 1841, in Jensen, Norway. He was a Private in Company M who fought in the valley and hilltop fights.

Henry Nicholaus Peter Witt was born in Heide, Denmark, on December 10, 1852. He was a Private in Company K on detached service at Powder River, Montana, during the battle.

William J. Gregg (left) died on December 10, 1913, in Hampton, Virginia, and is buried in the National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company F who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

Frederick Henry Gehrmann died on December 10, 1922, in Washington, D.C., and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. He was a Private in Company B who was on detached service at Powder River, Montana, during the battle.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

Fred E. Allan, who was also known as Alfred Ernest Allen, was born in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, England, on August 14, 1847. He was a Private in Company C who was killed while fighting with Custer’s column during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

James Hill was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on August 15, 1833. He was the First Sergeant in Company B who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight during the battle.

William Etzler married Mary Ann Hackett on August 17, 1877, in Bismarck, Dakota Territory. He was a Private in Company L who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight. On June 18, 1884, he deserted the cavalry in Camp Hell Gate, Montana.

Jacob Huff died in Tilton, Illinois on August 18, 1929, and was buried in the North Grove Cemetery in Celina, Ohio. He was a Private in the band, which did not accompany the troopers to the battle.

William L. Crawford died on August 20, 1876, of typhoid fever at Fort Abraham Lincoln in the Dakota Territory. He was originally buried in the Post Cemetery there and was later interred in the Custer National Cemetery on Crow Agency, Big Horn County, Montana. He was a Private in Company K who was not present at the battle because he was in the Post Hospital at Fort Lincoln.

Elwyn S. Reid died of heart failure at Fort D. A. Russell in Wyoming on August 20, 1895, and was buried there in what is now the Francis E. Warren Air Base Cemetery in Cheyenne, Laramie County, Wyoming. He was a Private in Company D 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.

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.

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.

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

Thomas Patrick Downing was born on March 6, 1856, in Limerick, Ireland. He was a Private in Company I who was killed with Custer’s Column during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

James Calhoun (left) married Margaret Emma Custer on March 7, 1872. Maggie Custer lost her husband, three brothers (George, Tom, and Boston) and a nephew, Autie Reed, during the battle.

Edwin Philip Eckerson was born on March 8, 1850, in Fort Vancouver, Washington Territory. He was a Second Lieutenant in Company L who was en route at the time of the battle, so he was not present.

Edwin Eldridge, who was also known as Edwin Grant, died on March 8, 1916, in Chicago, Illinois, and was buried in Elm Lawn Cemetery in Elmhurst, Illinois. He was a Private in Company A, but he was not at the battle because he had been discharged from Fort Abraham Lincoln for medical reasons.

Climbs the Bluff died on March 9, 1880, at Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory, and was buried in the Indian Scout Cemetery. He was an Arikara Scout. He was on detached service, carrying messages from the Yellowstone River Depot to the 7th Cavalry, at the time of the battle, so he did not participate in the battle.

Morris Hedding Thompson (left) was born in Waukegan, Illinois, on March 10, 1852. He was a Private in Company E who was not present during the battle due to detached service at Fort Abraham Lincoln where he was in charge of the company garden.

George A. Bott was born on March 12, 1853, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to Isaac and Betty Bott. He was a Private in Company A who fought in the valley and hilltop fights.

Thomas Blake died in New York City on March 12, 1927. He was a Private in Company A who fought in the valley and hilltop fights. He died in the city of his birth and was buried in the Cypress Hills National Cemetery in Brooklyn.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

Henry August Lange was born in Hanover, Germany, on December 7, 1851. He was a Private in Company E who was with the pack train and in the hilltop fight.

William Ephraim Morris (left) married Sarah Angela Kench on December 7, 1879. He was a Private in Company M who participated in the valley and hilltop fights during which he was wounded.

Andrew Humes Nave (right) died on December 7, 1924, in Knoxville, Tennessee, and was buried in Highland Memorial Cemetery there. He was a Second Lieutenant with Company I who was not present at the battle due to illness.

John Samuel Ragsdale was born in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, on December 9, 1850. He was a Private in Company A who was not present at the battle due to detached service at Powder River, Montana.

Jean Baptist Desire Gallenne (left) married Josephine Joly on December 9, 1878, in Greta, Louisiana.

Charles A. Windolph (right) was born on December 9, 1851, in Bergen, Germany. He was a Private in Company H who was wounded in the hilltop fight. He was awarded the Purple Heart and the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle.

Thomas Gordon (right) was born in Boston on December 9, 1853. He was a Private in Company K who participated in the hilltop fight.

Thomas Benton Weir (left) died on Governors Island, New York, on December 9, 1876, less than six months after the battle. He was the Captain of Company D who participated in scouting and in the hilltop fight. He was originally buried on Governors Island but was moved to the Cypress Hills National Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.

Martin Kilfoyle died on December 9, 1894, in Washington, D.C. He was a Private in Company G who was on detached service at Powder River, Montana, during the battle.

Henry Jackson died in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, on December 9, 1908, and is buried in the National Cemetery there. He was a First Lieutenant in Company F who was not at the battle due to detached service in Washington, D.C.

John Sivertsen (left) was born on December 10, 1841, in Jensen, Norway. He was a Private in Company M who fought in the valley and hilltop fights.

Henry Nicholaus Peter Witt was born in Heide, Denmark, on December 10, 1852. He was a Private in Company K on detached service at Powder River, Montana, during the battle.

William J. Gregg (left) died on December 10, 1913, in Hampton, Virginia, and is buried in the National Cemetery there. He was a Private in Company F who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

Myles Moylan (left) died on December 11, 1909, in San Diego, California, and was buried in Greenwood Memorial Park in San Diego. He was a Captain who commanded Company A during the valley and hilltop fights. He was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1894 for his actions at Bear Paw Mountain in 1877.

This Week in Little Bighorn History

James Hill was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on August 15, 1833. He was the First Sergeant in Company B who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Charles A. Windolph (left), who was also known as Charles Wrangel, married his second wife, Mathilda Lulow, on August 16, 1884, in Sturgis, Dakota Territory. He was a Private in Company H who suffered a wound during the hilltop fight for which he received the Purple Heart. He was also the recipient of the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during the battle.

William Etzler married Mary Ann Hackett on August 17, 1877, in Bismarck, Dakota Territory. He was a Private in Company L who was with the pack train and participated in the hilltop fight.

Christian Methfessel, who enlisted as Frederick Smith, died on August 18, 1905, in his hometown of Muhlhausen, Germany. He was a Private in Company K who was not present at the battle due to detached service at Powder River, Montana.

Jacob Huff died in Tilton, Illinois on August 18, 1929, and was buried in the North Grove Cemetery in Celina, Ohio. He was a Private in the band, which did not accompany the troopers to the battle.

Black Elk (left) died on August 19, 1950, on the Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota, and was buried in the St. Agnes Catholic Cemetery in Manderson. He was a member of Big Road’s Band and claimed two scalps during the Reno fight.

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.