The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-02-26
THE FAMOUS SEVENTH.
Sketch Of the Battles and Services
~. Of the Celebrated Cavalry
r-.. Regiment.
Organized 1t Fort Riley, In 1865,
with Gen. A. j. Smith
~srs.-~~ Colonel.
a Long ! Of Memorable Indian Cam
psigns-At Wounded Knee and
White Ctay Creek.

OF the military part Of the Sherman
funeral cortege the Seventh cavalry was the
most observed. Its association with the
death OF Custer and the battle Of Wounded
Knee had rendered IL famous, says tho st.
Louis Republic.
The Seventh cavalry was organized at
Fort Riley, Kan. In September. 1866, Gen.
A. J. Smith being appointed it's colonel.
During that fall and winter II was stationed
at Fort Riley. In March, 1867. it loft Fort
Riley and participated In the Cheyenne OK
petition under Gen. Hancock, operating
against ths Cheyenne Indians during the
summer Of 1867. During that campaign,
Troop d, Seventh cavsIry. under Capt.
Robbins, fought Roman Nose. with from
roo to 800 Cheyenne and Brule Sioux on
Beaver Creek. Kan.
The regiment was stationed at Fort Leav-
enworth. Kas., from December, 1867, until
April, 1868. During the summer OF 1868
troop II, Seventh cavalry, fought the Chey-
ennes on tho Solomon river and troop q
the same Indians near Fort Wallace, kas.,
losing many men killed and wounded.
Troop G also had an engagement near old
Fort Lyon, Col. The regiment also partic-
ipated that fall in actions against the Chey-
enne, Kiowa and Arapahoe Indians during
the expedition OF Con. Sully in southern
Kansas and the Indian Territory, it being
commanded by Maj. j. II. Elliott until
October, 1868, when Gen. George A. Custer
assumed command of the regiment. II
then participated in repeated engagements
with the Indians along the Cimarron II
Arkansas rivers, joining Gen. Sheridan
at Camp Supply in November. 1868.
On the eth OF that month it fought
the battle of the Washita. resulting
in the determination Of Black Kettles band
twenty-three men killed int three officers
and twenty-five men wounded. This cam
psign resulted in the complete subjugation
Of the Indians, the opening OF the western
portion of Kansas to p1eaeable settlement
and the completion Of the Kansas Pacific
railroad to the state Of Colorado.
The regiment remained in the department
of the Missouri until the spring Of 1870.
when it was ordered south, and was there
stationed until the spring OF 1873, when IL
was ordered to Dakota. During the sum
mer of 1873 it formed part Of the expedition
Of Gen. Stanley, forming the escort to the
Northern Pacific engineers surveying IN the
Yellowstone valley. On August 4. 1879,
troops A and b, under Con. Custer, fought
$50 Sou with considerable loss to tho
Indians, and on the eleventh Of tho same
month the regiment fought the Sioux at the
mouth of the Big Horn river.
In 1874 it took part in the expedition to
the Black Hills OF Dakota. This expedition
opened mp a then unknown region and re
suited in the purchase from the Sioux Of the
section Of country lying west OF the lO3d
meridian and east OF Wyoming, and the
development OF the rich gould fields Of
Dakota.
In 1876 it participated in the Sioux cam
paign under Gen. Terry. the regiment being
commanded by Gen. George A. Custer ana
WAS engaged IN the battle OF Little Big
Horn, in Jrns % and &c, losing thirteen
officers and about 800 men killed and many
wounded.
In 1877 six troops under Gen. sturgia
fought the Nez Perces Indians at Canyon
creek, three officers being wounded, and on
September 30, three troops under Capt.
Hale, forming part Of the command Of Gen.
Miles. fought the same Indians at Bear
Paw, Mont. with q loss of two officers and
eighteen mon killed and two officers and
twent-nine mon wounded, being ffty-one
killed and wounded out Of lib officers and
mon present.
In 1878 it took part in the pursuit and
capture of the Southern Cheyennes, near
Fort Robinson, Neb.
the engagement against the Crow Indians
at the same place that the battle Of the
Little Big Horn was fought in 1876. Dur
ing the summer of 1887 headquarters and
one battalion changed station from the do
partment of Dakota TO the department
Of the Missouri. and in 1888 tho other bat
talions joined the regiment. being stationed
At Fort Riley. Kan.
In 1880 eight troops under command of
Gen. J.W. Forsyth participated in the Sioux
trouble in Sonth Dakota, capturing Big
Foot's band Of Minneconjon Sioux, and re-
sulting when disarming them in the fight at
Wounded Knee, South Dakota, on Dec. -.
1880. The regiment suffered a loss Of one
officer and twenty-five men killed, and two
officers and thirty-two men wounded, In
this fight this and Of Indiana was utterly
exterminated, and on Dec. 30 it engaged in
thef fight on White Clay creek, South Da-
kota, with severe loss TO the Indians.
The loss in action in Indian fighting Of
the regiment from its organization to Dec
ember, 1880, has been eighteen officers
killed and twelve wounded. and Of enlisted
men over 375 killed and 100 woundtd.