I Troop, 7th Cavalry Regiment Muster Roll

Posted on June 29, 2019 by

Muster Roll of Captain Henry J. Nowlan’s Troop I of the Seventh Regiment of Cavalry, Army of the United States, (Colonel James W. Forsyth,) from the 31st day of October, 1890 to the 31st day of December, 1890. [Names in bold are believed to have been present at the battle of Wounded Knee.  Those annotated with * were wounded in action, those annotated with § were killed in action or died of wounds, and those annotated with ¥ were awarded the Medal of Honor or the Certificate of Merit.]

Captain Nowlan, Henry J.: Absent with leave from Oct. 10, 1890 to Nov. 11, 1890 for one month.  Commanding troop since Nov. 11, 1890.

First Lieutenant Nicholson, W. J.: Commanding troop from Sept. 11, 1890 to Nov. 11, 1890.  On duty with troop since Nov. 11, 1890.

Second Lieutenant Waterman, J. C.: On duty with troop since Sept. 11, 1890.

¥ Sergeant Trautman, Jacob: Enlisted on January 4, 1886, at Fort Totten, Dakota Territory, by Lt. Russell. A.G.O. Granted a Medal of Honor.

¥ * Sergeant Loyd, George: Enlisted on April 15, 1889, at Fort Riley, Kansas, by Lt. McCormick. Absent sick in General Hospital, Pine Ridge, S. D., since December 29, ’90. Wounded in action at Wounded Knee Creek, S. Dak. Dec. 29, 1890. Shot through right lung.

Sergeant Crowley, Edward B.: Enlisted on March 15, 1887, at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, by Lt. Andrews.

Sergeant Connelly, James F.: Enlisted on February 8, 1887, at Saint Louis, Missouri, by Lt. Wilson.

Sergeant Smith, Frederick: Enlisted on March 7, 1886, at Fort Meade, Dakota Territory, by Lt. Wilkinson. On detached service since Nov. 24, ’90 at Fort Riley, Kansas, in charge troop property.

§ Sergeant Howard, Henry: Enlisted on April 25, 1888, at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, by Capt. Drum. Absent sick in General Hospital at Pine Ridge, S. D., since Dec. 29, ’90. Wounded in action at Wounded Knee Creek, S. D., Dec. 29, ’90. Shot through left shoulder. Continue reading →

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First Lieutenant Ernest Albert Garlington, A Troop, 7th Cavalry – Distinguished Gallantry

Posted on January 20, 2019 by

Garlington promptly took his place among the fighting men and kneeling in plain view of Indians who, not 30 yards away, were pouring a galling fire into his little party, he continued the fight against overwhelming odds and held the ravine.
–Col. James W. Forsyth

Lieutenant Ernest A. Garlington, 7th U.S. Cavalry, circa 1876.[1]

Lieutenant Ernest A. Garlington, 7th U.S. Cavalry, circa 1876.[1]

Thirty-seven-year-old Ernest A. Garlington was the First Lieutenant of Captain Moylan’s A Troop and was commanding a detachment of that troop posted as sentinels just south of the dry ravine on the morning of December 29, 1890. Lieutenant Nicholson, the acting adjutant for 1st Battalion, mentioned speaking with Garlington just prior to the first shots fired that morning.

Just before the firing took place, I was in rear of the center of the line of tepees on the edge of the ravine with Lieut. Garlington, who was one of the officers on guard, when he remarked to me that the squaws were saddling up and packing and that he was satisfied that they would make a break. He advised me to report the fact to Major Whitside, and I was on my way to him and had reached the opening between B and K Troops when the first shot was fired by the Indians.[2]

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First Lieutenant James DeFrees Mann, K Troop, 7th Cavalry

Posted on December 30, 2018 by

I ordered my men to fire and the reports were almost simultaneous.

Lieut. J. D. Mann

2nd Lieut. James D. Mann, 7th Cavalry, in camp at Fort Riley, Kansas, 1888.[1]

On December 28, 1890, First Lieutenant James D. Mann, K Troop 7th Cavalry, was left in charge of his battalion’s camp at the Wounded Knee Post Office while his battalion commander, Major S. M. Whitside, rode out with over 240 troopers to meet and capture Big Foot and his band of Miniconjou Lakota. Lieutenant Mann sent the following message at 1:30 p.m. from the cavalry camp to the Assistant Adjutant General of the Department of the Platte headquartered in the field at the Pine Ridge Agency.

Major Whitside with all mounted men and mountain guns left camp at 12 m. to meet Big Foot’s band, reported to be in camp at the crossing of the Porcupine, having been reported there by Little Bat. We have in camp here two of their men, holding them as prisoners.
I have just been informed by Vespucius, a halfbreed, who has driven from the agency to this point, that he met about 50 strange Indians, who were about 9 miles from the agency and heading in that direction. These, I learn from our prisoners, are from Cherry creek and are trying to get into the agency.[2]

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