Post by Beth on Jul 23, 2015 23:37:45 GMT
Joel Haworth Elliott, son of Mark Elliott and Mary S. Haworth, was born October 27, 1840 in Centre Township, Wayne County, Indiana, and died November 27, 1868 in White Rock, on the Washita River, Indian Territory. Elliot grew up on the family farm. His father died in 1858 leaving the then 17 year old Joel to help run the family farm.
The Eilliott family were stauch pacifist Quakers, however at the start of the Civil War, Joel joined over 1200 other Indiana Quaker men who elected to join the military. Joel enlisted in Company C, 2nd Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Cavalry on August 28, 1861. After the war when Joel decided to make his profession in the military, he was disowned from the Quakers "for serving in the army and accepting an office in the army.”
Joel Elliott served in the Battles of Pittsburg Landing (Shiloh), Chaplin Hill and Stones River. In May of 1862 he was detailed as bodyguard on General Mc Cook's staff. After the Battle of Perryville he was transferred to Company M of the 7th Indiana Cavalry and promoted to Captain on October 21, 1863. He assisted in organizing Company E, 7th Regiment, Indiana Cavalry and was slightly wounded in skirmish with Confederate Nathan Bedford Forrest’s forces. He survived a critical wound to his left lung and shoulder during the Battle of Brice's Cross Roads on June 10, 1864 in Guntown, Mississippi.
In December 1864, commanding 200 men he was in Grierson's raid from Memphis to Vicksburg and participated in the fight at Verona, Mississippi capturing 4000 stands of arms. Through influence of Governor Oliver P. Morton, the Indiana war governor, he was raised to the rank of Major in the Seventh United States Cavalry in March of 1867. Major Elliot was assigned to the 7th Michigan and reported immediately to Fort Riley, Kansas. There he served under the command of Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer in Kansas.
On October 11, 1867, Custer was court martialed for absence without leave for a year and . Major Joel H. Elliott was put in command of the 7th Cavalry until Custer’s return in September 1868 .
On November 27th, 1868 Custer's 7th U.S. Cavalry lead a surprise attack at dawn on the sleeping Cheyenne village lead by Black Kettle along the banks of the Washita River near the present date town of Cheyenne OK.
During the battle, Elliott and 20 troopers pursued a group of fleeing Cheyenne. Elliott's contingent ran into a mixed party of Cheyenne, Kiowa, and Arapaho warriors who were rushing from villages up the river to aid Black Kettle's encampment. The warriors overwhelmed the small troop in a single charge.
Custer's after learning about the nearby larger village abruptly withdrawal from Washita without determining the fate of Elliott and his men. The incident caused deep resentment with deep resentment within the 7th Cavalry that never healed. In particular, Elliott's friend and H Company captain Frederick Benteen never forgave Custer for abandoning Elliott.
Further reading and resources.
Battle of Washita Wiki
NPS Battle of Washita
Haworth Family page for Major Joel Elliot Great source of information and pictures
Wounds from the Washita: The Major Elliott Affair
Major Joel Elliot biography
2nd Regiment Indiana Cavalry Wiki
The Eilliott family were stauch pacifist Quakers, however at the start of the Civil War, Joel joined over 1200 other Indiana Quaker men who elected to join the military. Joel enlisted in Company C, 2nd Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Cavalry on August 28, 1861. After the war when Joel decided to make his profession in the military, he was disowned from the Quakers "for serving in the army and accepting an office in the army.”
Joel Elliott served in the Battles of Pittsburg Landing (Shiloh), Chaplin Hill and Stones River. In May of 1862 he was detailed as bodyguard on General Mc Cook's staff. After the Battle of Perryville he was transferred to Company M of the 7th Indiana Cavalry and promoted to Captain on October 21, 1863. He assisted in organizing Company E, 7th Regiment, Indiana Cavalry and was slightly wounded in skirmish with Confederate Nathan Bedford Forrest’s forces. He survived a critical wound to his left lung and shoulder during the Battle of Brice's Cross Roads on June 10, 1864 in Guntown, Mississippi.
In December 1864, commanding 200 men he was in Grierson's raid from Memphis to Vicksburg and participated in the fight at Verona, Mississippi capturing 4000 stands of arms. Through influence of Governor Oliver P. Morton, the Indiana war governor, he was raised to the rank of Major in the Seventh United States Cavalry in March of 1867. Major Elliot was assigned to the 7th Michigan and reported immediately to Fort Riley, Kansas. There he served under the command of Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer in Kansas.
On October 11, 1867, Custer was court martialed for absence without leave for a year and . Major Joel H. Elliott was put in command of the 7th Cavalry until Custer’s return in September 1868 .
On November 27th, 1868 Custer's 7th U.S. Cavalry lead a surprise attack at dawn on the sleeping Cheyenne village lead by Black Kettle along the banks of the Washita River near the present date town of Cheyenne OK.
During the battle, Elliott and 20 troopers pursued a group of fleeing Cheyenne. Elliott's contingent ran into a mixed party of Cheyenne, Kiowa, and Arapaho warriors who were rushing from villages up the river to aid Black Kettle's encampment. The warriors overwhelmed the small troop in a single charge.
Custer's after learning about the nearby larger village abruptly withdrawal from Washita without determining the fate of Elliott and his men. The incident caused deep resentment with deep resentment within the 7th Cavalry that never healed. In particular, Elliott's friend and H Company captain Frederick Benteen never forgave Custer for abandoning Elliott.
Further reading and resources.
Battle of Washita Wiki
NPS Battle of Washita
Haworth Family page for Major Joel Elliot Great source of information and pictures
Wounds from the Washita: The Major Elliott Affair
Major Joel Elliot biography
2nd Regiment Indiana Cavalry Wiki
