Typed Letter From First Sergeant John Ryan -- Battle Of The Little Big Horn

FIRST SERGEANT JOHN RYAN

Publication: John Ryan, March 12, 1912, West Newton, Massachusetts

Four-page typed letter from John Ryan, a survivor of the Little Big Horn Battle to a former member of the 7th Cavalry reminiscing about the battle, fellow soldiers, and his memories of old times at Fort Rice and Fort Lincoln. The letter is dated March 12, 1912, and was addressed from West Newton, Massachusetts and signed in type by John Ryan, Captain of Police, West Newton, Massachusetts. First Sergeant John Ryan enlisted during the Civil War and was wounded four times. He joined Company M, 7th U. S. Cavalry on November 23, 1866. Rising through the ranks he was appointed Sergeant and receiving his "blood stripes" after Sergeant Erwin Vanousky was killed during the Battle of Washita River. Ryan participated in the Yellowstone and Black Hills Expeditions of 1873-1874. He was promoted to First Sergeant in 1874, but was reduced to Private after a court martial found him guilty of abusing a prisoner. Approximately one month later Major Marcus A. Reno, who commanded Fort Abraham Lincoln and the Seventh Cavalry during Custer’s absence, reappointed him as First Sergeant. He participated in the Battle of Little Big Horn as a member of Reno's Battalion. He left the army later in 1876 returning to his home in West Newton, where he married, raised a family and joined the police force. Eventually he was promoted to police captain and he retired in 1913. Some old uniform folds and light wear to the extremities, else very good.

Inventory Number: 50557