He enlisted in the 7th Cavalry on March 4, 1871, at age 22, giving his previous occupation as Farmer. He had hazel eyes, red hair, a sandy complexion, and was 5 feet, 10 1/4 inches tall. He deserted on June 21, 1874, and was apprehended that same date. Pleading guilty to the charge of AWOL, he was sentenced to confinement for ten days on bread and water, per General Court-martial Order 74, Dept of the South, Louisville, Kentucky, dated August 26, 1872. He was discharged on March 4, 1876, at Fort Abraham Lincoln, North Dakota, upon expiration of his term of service, and reenlisted the next day.
Late in the afternoon of June 25, 1876, troops commanded by Captain Thomas Weir made an abortive attempt to contact the Custer column. When the troops reached Weir Point, warriors on Last Stand Hill saw them and moved to counter-attack. After a brief skirmish, the cavalry retreated back towards their previous position on the bluff now called Reno's Hill. Charley was shot through the hips just as the withdrawal on Weir Point began. Unable to mount or walk, he crawled after his departing comrades. Lieutenant Edgerly called back for him to hide in a nearby ravine until the company could be formed to rescue him, thus leaving Charley to his fate. His body was later found with a stick rammed down his throat.
He enlisted in the 7th Cavalry on March 4, 1871, at age 22, giving his previous occupation as Farmer. He had hazel eyes, red hair, a sandy complexion, and was 5 feet, 10 1/4 inches tall. He deserted on June 21, 1874, and was apprehended that same date. Pleading guilty to the charge of AWOL, he was sentenced to confinement for ten days on bread and water, per General Court-martial Order 74, Dept of the South, Louisville, Kentucky, dated August 26, 1872. He was discharged on March 4, 1876, at Fort Abraham Lincoln, North Dakota, upon expiration of his term of service, and reenlisted the next day.
Late in the afternoon of June 25, 1876, troops commanded by Captain Thomas Weir made an abortive attempt to contact the Custer column. When the troops reached Weir Point, warriors on Last Stand Hill saw them and moved to counter-attack. After a brief skirmish, the cavalry retreated back towards their previous position on the bluff now called Reno's Hill. Charley was shot through the hips just as the withdrawal on Weir Point began. Unable to mount or walk, he crawled after his departing comrades. Lieutenant Edgerly called back for him to hide in a nearby ravine until the company could be formed to rescue him, thus leaving Charley to his fate. His body was later found with a stick rammed down his throat.
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