Company A

[Beth]

Note on lines on US Register of Enlistments.  The lines are numbered from top to bottom but at times the numbers are not clear, in such cases I have given the line count from the top or the bottom depending on the position on the page.


CPT Myles Moylan (1838-1909) MOH  

1st LT Charles De Rudio (1832-1910)

2nd LT Charles A. Varnum (1849-1936) MOH

1st SGT William Heyn (1848-1910) Enlistment

SGT Ferdinand Culbertson (1845-1889)  Last Enlistment line 11

SGT John T. Easley (1853-unknown)  US Army Register of Enlistments Line 75 

SGT Henry Fehler (1837-1889) U.S. Army, Register of Enlistments, 1798-1914--Line 3 on page  Death/Internment  Inventory

SGT George M. McDermott (1850-1877) Enlistment from 1877 under the name McDermott He also used the name Michael Burke

CPL Jame Dalious (1851-1876)  KIA Valley Enlistment Line 2

CPL George H. King (1850-1876)  Was injured in the Valley fight and died on the Far West July 2, 1876  Enlistment Line 21

CPL Roy Stanislaus (1846-1913) MOH

Trumpeter William G. Hardy (1849-1919) Enlistment Line 24

Trumpeter David McVeigh (1851-unknown) US Army Register of Enlistments 1798-1914 Line 6 from top

Blacksmith Andrew Hamilton (~1855-Unknown) US Army Register of Enlistments 1798-1914 Line 312

Farrier John Bringes (1845-unknown) US Army Register of Enlistments 1798-1914 Line 15 from the top
 
*Saddler John Muering (1850-1902)  Mr Muering had numerous enlistments from 1869 on  USAR of E 1874 second line from bottom  Last enlistment Line 9 from bottom

PVT Charles Aller (1847-unknown) US Army Register of Enlistments Line 15 from top

PVT John E. Armstrong (1835-1875)  KIA Valley  Enlistment Line 22

PVT Neil Bancroft (1845-1901)  MOH  Enlistment Line 24

PVT Louis Baumgartner (1853-1895) Enlistment Re-enlistments 1877 1882  1889

PVT Wilbur F. Blair (1854-1918) Enlistment line 8

PVT Thomas Blake (1850-1927) Enlistment line 17

PVT George Bott (1853-1883 Enlistment Line 18

PVT Andrew Connor (1845-1911) Enlistment Line 5 from bottom

PVT Cornelius Cowley (1845-1908) Enlistment Line 4

PVT Jacob Deihle (1853-1885)  Enlistment Line 20

PVT James Drinan (1853-1876) KIA Valley Enlistment Line 5

PVT Otto Durselew (1850-1877) Enlistment Line 2 as Otto Durselen

PVT Samuel J. Foster (1850-1884)  Enlistment Last line  Pension Application  Buried at the head of Arnett's Fork on top of the mountain Ancestry.com link  Martha Arnett Foster (wife)

PVT John W. Franklin (1850-UNK) Enlistment 7 lines from bottom Census line 31

PVT John M. Gilbert (1854-UNK) Enlistment Line 9 from bottom

PVT David W. Harris (1854-UNK) Enlistment Line 9  MOH

PVT Frederick Holmstead (1849-1880) Enlistment 11 lines up from bottom

PVT Stanton Hook (1846-1898) 1st Enlistment Line labeled 660  Second enlistment in 5th Cav

PVT Samuel Johnson (1851-UNK) Enlistment

PVT Emil Jonson (Ionson) (1853-UNK) Enlistment

PVT William McClurg (1854-UNK) Enlistment

PVT James McDonald (1853-1876) KIA Valley Enlistment Line 5 from bottom  Final Statement

PVT William Moodie (1841-1876) KIA Valley Enlistment 11 up from the bottom 

PVT William D. Nugent (1853-1934) Enlistment Line 3

PVT George W. Proctor (1850-UNK) Enlistment Line 2 from bottom 

PVT Francis M. Reeves (1847-1902) Enlistment  Line 425

PVT Richard Rollins (~1849-1876) KIA Valley Enlistment 14 lines from top  Final Statement

PVT Thomas Seayers (1854-UNK) Enlistment line 719

PVT Anton Seibelder (1828-1913) 1887 Enlistment  Burial Record

PVT Elijah T. Strode (1871-1881) 1878 Enlistment Line 199  Final Statement

PVT John Sullivan (1851-1876) KIA Valley Enlistment Line 314

PVT Thomas P. Sweetser (1850-1876) KIA Valley Enlistment Line 755  Mother's Pension Card

PVT William O. Taylor (1855-1903)  Pension Card  Life with Custer Taylor's book

*PVT Howard H. Weaver (1851-UNK)  Enlistment Line 862 Pension Card

*Not at BLBH-detached

8 members KIA 
3 Medals of Honor at BLBH
2 Medals of Honor Centennial Campaign other than LBH

[deadwoodgultch]

Beth,

You are doing Gods work, well maybe goddess's work remembering and mentioning the lesser players of this battle. Maybe a little bell goes off in heaven when ones name is mentioned, maybe not. No matter the case, a family member may find a name that means something to them.

You may want to drop a PM to Fred or Treasuredude(visits here), they may have additional resources for you.

Regards,
Tom

[Beth]

I have been referring to Fred's book as well as several websites. I am also doing my own google work to find more information if available. It bothers me to no end that I can't find were Neil Bancroft is buried. The man was awarded the MOH and he deserves to be remembered and if he has no headstone, an appropriate one. I know where he died and the day he died but have yet to find a web searchable data base.

One thing that is clear from searching for each man, even though I have only done a small section at this time.  These men paid a horrible price for their service.  Now we would probably have been able to diagnose them with PTSD but no such thing existed then so many self medicated with alcohol, commuted suicide,  or deserted.    PVT Louis Baumgartner, PVT Andrew Connor and PVT Cornelius Cowley died while hospitalized for insanity.

[Beth]

General Notes on the Men of Company A.  Officers will have their own page.

Trumpeter William Hardy served 38 years in the military from the Civil War to the Spanish American War in Manilla and finally retiring at Fort Walla Walla.

Heyn, William   Enlisted Feb. 28 1867 in Co G 3rd Cav.  He was discharged Feb 28. 1872 then enlisted again 6/18/72 in Co A 7th. He was wounded at LBH,  transferred into General Service Nov 1876 and assigned duty (unreadable but looks like alj.o Dec. 11 1876 Discharged april 6, 1877 re enlisted the same day Promoted to SGT Jan. 16 1878 Discharged Sept. 2 1879 by apt as Clerk Class One at AGQ at Washington DC  Is listed as Very Good Character.  There may be missing enlistments in the records because the next reference I can find shows he was  Discharged 7/21 (or 24) 1886
Heyn enlisted again April 1987 at the age of 38 but was discharged August 28, 1888 The final note says he was habitually intemperate all previous
Received an Invalid Pension from his time with the 7th
He is in the Washington DC 1891 City Directory as a Clerk at the Soldiers' Home
There is no indication he ever married and no one collected widow benefits under his name.  He is buried at US Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery, Washington DC

Ferdinand Augustus Culbertson born 3/28/1845 in Pennsylvia.  He enlisted in the 9th Pennsylvania Veterern Cav. Co 1 at the age of 15 where he gave his birth year as 1843.  He enlists in 1873 at St. Louis his listed occupation is clerk. This enlistment ends in 1878 at FAL in Feb where he is rated with excellent character.  He re enlists at FAL in Feb. 1878 and is discharged on 12/26/83 at Fort Totten NY, character is listed as good.  He enlists on 1/11/1883 in Chicago.  He is discharged in Detroit on 1/10/88 with excellent character.  His last enlistment begins 1/11/1883 in Detroit.  He dies of a hemorrage of the lung on 1/10/1889.  His widow Adeline nee Chaffee files for her widow's pension on March 9. 1889.  I could not find a date for his marriage but Adeline is listed as being single living in her father's home in the 1880 census.  Her occupation is a dressmaker.  There are no children listed on the pension request. A Detroit City Directory SGT Culbertson working at US recruiting office at 61 Congress, and gives his home address 511 4th Av.  I checked. there is no home there now and 61 Congress is downtown Detroit and no period builds remain on the block.  The Army's Final Statement says he died in the evening of the 10th at his home.  It lists his belongings as 2 blouses, 1 uniform trousers, 1 citizen trousers, 1 waterproof coat, 1 pair of skates 3 handkerchiefs, 1 memorandum book, 1 cigar case, 4 collars, 4 pairs of gloves 1 razor

John Muering bounced around between regiments serving first as the saddler in the 6th Cav  then in the 7th.   I was unable to find an enlistment from  From 1 60-74 6th Cav saddler
then as the saddler in the 7th Cav.  He moved on to the 14th Inf as a soldier from 1889 to 1902  He served in Manilla in the Spanish American War.  He died at Fort Wayne MI in 1902 of kidney disease.

John T Easley enlisted in St Louis on Dec 7, 1874 lists his birth as Montgomery Co Ill occupation laborer and gives his age as 21. He deserted Oct 17, 1876 which would have been days after Bear Paw Mountian.

I have found a John Thomas Easley on Ancestry born Oct, 1854, in Montgomery Co. Ill would died in May 1905.  None of the public family trees link him to a military service.  I don't know if these might be the same man but lacking 100% proof I will only say there is bit of coincidence

Henry Fehler born around 1837 (his age changes on different enlistments)  He lists is birthplace as Hanover Germany.  I found enlistments starting in July 18, 1866 to July 1867 to the 7th Cav. His occupation is listed as laborer.  The next enlistment I could find is Sept 24, 1869 to 1/8/72 his occupation is listed as soldier.  He was discharged in Elizabethtown KY for a disability. Henry re enlists again July 14, 1872 discharged in June 24 1877 at camp near Tongue River character fair. He lists his age at the time of this enlistment as 35.  On Dec 26, 1877 Henry enlists now aged 32 in the 6th Cav Company E.  He is discharged Dec. 25. 1882 for end of service-no comments were made on character.  The next enlistment is to the 6th Cav. Jan. 16. 1883. He was discharged Jan 15, 1888.  His final enlistment was Enlist Jan 16, 1888 again in the 6th.  He died May 15, 1889 from acute alcoholic poisoning at Fort Union.  He is listed as a private at the time of his death and single. The Final statement lists that he was buried May 16, 1889 so he had to be buried in or near Fort Union but he is not listed as being buried at the fort and I could not find him in cemeteries in the area.  

CORRECTION-Fehler is buried at Fort Union according to his final statement.  The statement says  he is in grave 291.  The final statement also lists his effects but unfortunately I can not read parts of it: 1 helmet, 1 dress crvat, 2 great cvat, 3 made blouses, 1 unmade blouses, 2 trousers (unreadable) mad, 1 trouser (unreadable) unmade) 3 blankets, 1 unreadable but appears to be beurken, 2 pairs books, 1 pair shoes, 1 hat, 2 forage caps, 6 woolen Something, 1 undershirt, 3 unreadable, 2 cav. Overalls, 1 drawers, 6 berlin gloves, 1 unreadable,, 1 scarf, 6 handkerchiefs, 1 serving something, 2 something collars,1 whisk broom, 1 cleaning outfit, 1 box.   After an email from a Park Ranger at Fort Union, burials at Fort Union were moved to Fort Leavenworth. Stay tuned for more.

Stanton Hook served in Company M 9th Ohio Cav during the civil war.  After leaving the service he worked first as a saddler and then as a harness maker in various locations around Denver.  One location would be in the railyard outside of Coor's Stadium and the section location is now somewhere in the Denver Convention Center.   He applied for an invalid pension in 1891, died in 1898.  He left a widow, Martha, who died in 1925 .  He leftinvalid 1891 Left behind a widow Martha who died in 1925



Francis Reeves was enlisted in the from 8th Cav May 2 1868 to May 4 1873
then in the 7th from October 1875 to Dec. 20, 1878.  He was discharged due to disability at FAL

Elijah J. Strode cause of death shot was by PVT Thomas Whelen K company. 
Final Statement lists his property as 1 Campaign Hat, 1 forage cap, 1 great coat, 1 uniform coat, 1 blouse, 1 fatigue overalls, 1 pair trousers, 1 pair cotton drawers, 1 gingham cotton shirt, 1 pair shoes, 1 pair cotton socks, 4 blankets, 1 clothes brusher, 1 blacking brusher, pair of berlin gloves (Undreable) (unreadable) Bible, 3 books assorted, clothing chest,

[Beth]

Deserters Company A
Charles Aller deserted in April 24, 1877 Surrendered Sept 15, 1877 Escaped Oct. 23, 1877
John Easley Deserted Oct 17, 1876
John Franklin Deserted Feb. 2, 1877 Apprended Feb. 11, 1880 Dishonorable discharge 3/15/80 served 2 years
John M. Gilbert Deserted April 28, 1877
Emil Jonson Deserted Jan. 21 1875 surrendered April 12, 1875 Desert again Jan. 24, 1878
William McClurg Deserted March 22 1878 Surrendere March 9,1882
Thomas Seayer Deserted 6/5/1878 surrendered 9/28/78 Dishonorable discharge 2/4.1879

[Beth]

A further updates on where Henry Felher. Felher died at Fort Union NM and was buried there. At some point all those buried at Fort Union were moved to Leavenworth. Unfortunately, Felher's grave can not be found or even record of it. I received this from the Park Ranger at Fort Union.

"While Private Fehler is listed in our "death book" (and it actually shows him as a member of the 6th U.S. Cavalry), we have no listing of him buried at Fort Leavenworth. The possible reasons include: 1) his headstone was broken or destroyed at the Fort Union cemetery at the time of the re-interments to Fort Leaveworth; 2) some kind of breakdown in the paperwork between the two cemeteries at the time of interment; or 3) maybe a re-interment at a private cemetery (perhaps a family plot). I'm afraid to say I think we're at a dead end here."

Personally I wonder if the grave in Fort Union was unmarked, if he was actually moved. My research indicates that he had no family.

[herosrest]

The list below is compiled from the information carried to Ft. Lincoln and wired to the NY Herald by Clement A. Lounsberry.

Chapter 21,  'Politics in Indian Affairs', p312; 'Early history of North Dakota; essential outlines of American history' by Lounsberry, Clement A. (Clement Augustus) 1919 Edition availabe online with Archive. org

COMPANY A - Killed

Cpl. Henry Dallans
Cpl. G.K. King

J. E. Armstrong
Jas. Drinaw
Wm. Moody
R. Rowline
Jas. McDonald
John Sullivan
Thos. P. Switzer

Wounded

First Sgt. Wm. Heyn, left knee;
Jacob Deal, face
Priv. Jas. Foster, right arm
Fred Homsted, left wrist
Francis Reeves, left side and body
Elijah T. Stroude, right leg