Custer’s Last Stand

Sergeant Major Pierre A. Banker (Army Discharge from 7th Cavalry, 1871)

Army Discharge for Sergeant Major Pierre A. Banker

If you collect items associated with the Seventh Cavalry, I can help you there also.  Shown is the Army Discharge for Pierre A. Banker, who served in 1871 as the senior enlisted man in the regiment.

  • Born in Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, New York on December 5, 1845, the son of John Banker and Priscilla Alden.
  • Educated at the Mount Pleasant Military Academy in Ossining, New York at the same time as James “Jimmy” Calhoun.
  • Served as a private in Company A of the 20th Regiment, New York State Militia, from the beginning of the Civil War; the regiment was reorganized into the 80th New York Volunteers; it fought at Second Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg and the Siege of Petersburg; Banker was originally discharged on February 3, 1865.
  • Enlisted in the 7th Cavalry Regiment on November 19, 1866.
  • Stood 5′ 4½” tall, with a fair complexion, gray eyes and dark hair.
  • Served in Company F.
  • Fought at the Battle of the Washita and succeeded Sergeant Major Walter Kennedy, who was killed during the battle, as the regimental sergeant major.
  • Functioned as a clerk at 7th Cavalry Headquarters at Fort Hays and Fort Leavenworth, where he transcribed many of the original reports submitted by Custer, including the official final report on the Battle of the Washita.
  • Wrote a letter to his father, John Banker of New York, which read in part: “I wish Congress would decide upon this Mormon business. I should very much like to go to Salt Lake and give old Brigham a good sound whipping.”
  • Discharged from the 7th Cavalry on June 9, 1871 at Taylor Barracks, Louisville, Kentucky.  Discharge was signed by Major W. P. Carlin, Commanding Officer of the 16th Infantry Regiment and Post Commander; and by First Lieutenant William W. Cooke, Adjutant of the 7th Cavalry Regiment.
  • Married Miss Julia Carroll, daughter of William Carroll a prominent merchant and businessman, in Rhinebeck, New York, on November 23, 1873.
  • Graduated from the New York Homeopathic College in 1879 and began practicing medicine.
  • Died at Elizabeth, New Jersey on December 2, 1909 of a heart attack.
  • Survived by his wife and children, George T. Banker (organist), Pierre Augustine Banker, Jr., Harriett Preston and Julia Carroll Banker.
Sergeant Major Pierre A. Banker (Army Discharge from 7th Cavalry, 1871)2013-02-12T13:56:11-06:00

Ride the Battlefield

Ride the Battlefield

You can ride the battlefield at the Little Bighorn with French and Crow Tribe expert horsemen with Ken Real Bird.  The photo shows me in my younger days riding the range in northern Colorado.  If I can do it, so can you — and you’ll have a memory of a lifetime.

You can ride the battlefield with French, shown here in his younger days riding the range in northern Colorado

You can ride the battlefield with French, shown here in his younger days riding the range in northern Colorado

Ride the Battlefield2016-01-13T17:54:31-06:00

Little Bighorn Company M, 7th Cavalry Timberline Position

Little Bighorn Company M Timberline Position

Company M troopers lay down along this line toward the large tree and fired to their right. This land does not belong to the National Park, but you can get permission to visit.

Little Bighorn Company M, 7th Cavalry Timberline Position2012-10-15T20:20:50-05:00

Little Bighorn Battlefield Guide

Little Bighorn Battlefield Guide

You can’t have too many of these; pick them up at the museum bookstore. In addition, the excellent map, the guide has a description of each stop, the order you should visit each location , excellent photos and an article on the clash of cultures. Remember, this guide does not cover the valley fight; you will need a separate source to help do that. But if you don’t take time to visit the valley, the rest of the battle will be more difficult to understand.

Little Bighorn Battlefield Guide2012-10-15T20:19:22-05:00

Montana Paradise

Montana Paradise

This photo was shot in mid-May, less than 30 miles from the Little Bighorn Battlefield.  A trip to Montana and Wyoming is something you want to ensure is on your “bucket list.”

Montana Paradise2012-10-15T20:42:07-05:00
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