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Post by Steve Wilk on Sept 6, 2005 22:04:31 GMT -6
The other day I was browsing through a back issue of the LBHA Research Review, Summer 2003. Contained in the article "The Brennan Collection" by Charles Markantes, is a photo of Lt. Ezra B. Fuller, 7th Cavalry. The caption summarizes Fuller's service career. It mentions that he served as editor of the Cavalry Journal and also, from 1904-1922 served as Librarian of the Army Service Schools at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. The photo of Fuller is also in Langelier's _Custer's Commands_ pg. 55, where he is misidentified as Lt. James Porter. (I knew this was in error, like other photos in this book).
Billy: this is where I wonder if you can be of help. Since you regularly do research at Leavenworth, and since Fuller was a fixture there for so long, can you come up with any other photos of him? Preferably frontal face shots. Reason I ask is remember my photo thread trying to ID the six officers? With Walt certain the man in the middle was Harrington? Well, I wonder if that man is not Ezra B. Fuller. Fuller was an 1873 West Point grad, born in 1848. So he was in his late twenties at the time of that six man photo. The Lt. in the middle looks that age. The RR photo of Fuller is from the side, sort of three quarter, so it is difficult to compare the faces.
Diane, if you have the 2003 issue, can you post the photo? Check it out Walt, this may be the man you thought was Harrington. There is also a photo of Lt. Biddle on pg. 10, minus the imperial.
Fuller also wrote an eight page eye witness account of Wounded Knee, the day after the event. I would be interested in reading this if Billy could find it and post it.
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Post by markland on Sept 6, 2005 22:19:13 GMT -6
And since I was just planning on hitting the Frontier Army Museum tomorrow (everyone took vacation last week darn it, now is my turn to take a day) to photograph what I think may be a different picture of Wallace, I certainly will look up Lt. Fuller.
Cavalry Journal you say? Cool, that too.
Billy
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Post by Diane Merkel on Sept 6, 2005 23:13:28 GMT -6
Lieutenant Ezra Bond Fuller (1848-1925): Second Lieutenant Jonathan W. Biddle (died 1877):
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Post by markland on Sept 8, 2005 10:26:03 GMT -6
Steve, I found a picture of Ezra as an officer but the quality of it is not worthy of posting. It shows him holding a horse with a side-profile. Regarding his Wounded Knee article. I looked for it but could not find it in both the Cavalry Journal and the Journal of the Military Services Institutions of the United States. I ran out of time before I had a chance to hunt in the Journal of the United States Cavalry Association. The Cavalry Journal has an article featuring Fuller's reminiscences, but, as look would have it, that roll is out for replacement due to being broken. I do have the Editorial Comment about Fuller's life published in the Cavalry Journal after his death along with a photo of him in his later years. Hmmm, reading the article I see that he was Secretary and Treasurer of the U.S. Cavalry Association which makes it likely that something of his would have been published in that journal. I will look next time over, although it may be awhile as I am in still in shock over the cost of having to fill the truck up with gas last night Best of wishes, Billy
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Post by markland on Sept 8, 2005 16:31:11 GMT -6
Steve and all, while rummaging through the Frontier Army Museum's library and photo collections, I found this picture of an unidentified 7th Cav. officer. It looks similar to Ezra and may be him. Here is a link to a somewhat blurry photo I took with the camera (I forgot my camera stand ) Billy freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~familyinformation/unknown_001.jpg
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Post by Jim on Sept 8, 2005 18:02:07 GMT -6
The NECK, chin & ears do NOT match!
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Post by markland on Sept 8, 2005 20:52:24 GMT -6
The NECK, chin & ears do NOT match! Jim, actually I think the chin and ears are closely matched. The neck, well, it could be the posture he is holding himself in on the photo on the board, or it could truly be a mismatch. I am not advocating any position, only questioning whether my unknown might be Fuller; if you have the means and expertise (unlike myself) why don't you post an image of both ears and chins side by-by side so that we can compare? Best of wishes, Billy
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Post by Steve Wilk on Sept 8, 2005 21:37:56 GMT -6
Billy, thanks for checking it out. I don't think that's Fuller in your photo. I estimate that photo to be circa 1890; the mohair trim on the blouse (1889 regs) as well as the white linen collar (issued to enlisted men from 1887, adopted in the '89 regs) tell of later in the period. Of course, I could be wrong. But if I'm right, that man is a 2Lt; and an old one at that; he looks to over forty. Fuller would obviously have made it past that rank by then.
As far as his Wounded Knee account, I saw one web article from the Salt Lake Tribune from 1995 which mentions it up for sale at the Butterfield auction in San Francisco, along with various other Custeriana items.
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Post by markland on Sept 9, 2005 7:36:30 GMT -6
Steve, thanks for the clarification and education regarding the uniform!
Billy
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Post by Walt Cross on Sept 27, 2005 20:54:53 GMT -6
Steve; See my answer to you on Ezra under the Hart. Also, since you seem to be well learned on the uniform, what are the chances that a trumpeter at the LBH battle was sporting the double stripe on his regulation trousers? I understand it was not approved until the 1880s. Think Custer might have authorized its early wear?
Walt
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Post by Steve Wilk on Sept 27, 2005 22:10:05 GMT -6
Walt, it is very probable some trumpeters were sporting the double stripe on their trousers. There is a group photo on the frontispiece of McChristian's book _US Army in the West_ where Trumpeter George Penwell, K Co., has the double musician stripes on his pants. Photo is circa 1875. Soldiers practices often predated regs. For example, chevrons worn on fatigue blouses were not official until the 1872 regs, though the men donned them long before then. Prior to this they were only required on dress coats. Yellow linings in the capes of the cavalry overcoat were not regulation until 1880; soldiers were already wearing these for some time before this.
Seems the men often more or less established uniform regs before they were written.
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Post by Walt Cross on Sept 29, 2005 5:18:57 GMT -6
Good to know.
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Post by markmck on Dec 28, 2019 11:15:41 GMT -6
Hello Steve I just came across a picture that says it's taken at Fort Grant Arizona on the back. It says is Nobles troop 1897 to 1998 at Fort Grant. Then went on to Cuba. It says Ezra B. Fuller Captain. There are approx 60 soldiers shown and one officer setting in the front (Captain Fuller?). One soldier is holding a flag with 7 and E on it. I came across this in some old family pictures and was just trying to find out who Captain Fuller was when I came across your old message on here so I thought I'd contact you. Mark McKnight 317-370-6578
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Post by fred on Dec 29, 2019 6:02:31 GMT -6
CPT Ezra Bond Fuller—b. Rockford, IL, October 4, 1848 – d. Fort Leavenworth, KS, September 17, 1925. Enlisted in the Illinois infantry when he was sixteen. After graduating from West Point, he served in Texas and New Mexico with the 8th Cavalry and fought Indians at Staked Plains and Muster Creek, TX. After the LBH, he was transferred to A Company, 7th Cavalry, replacing the promoted Charles Varnum. Took part in the Nez Percé campaign of 1877 and the battle of Cañon Creek, September 13, 1877, acting CO of Company H, replacing Benteen who was battalion commander. Appointed assistant professor of philosophy at USMA from August 1881 – August 1885. Returned to frontier duty and took part in Sioux campaign of 1890. Spent three years as PMS at Clemson College, then rejoined the 7th Cavalry in Cuba. Retired on disability in May 1904.
Heitman’s register: Fuller, Ezra Bond. IL. IL. Private, E Company, 141st Illinois Infantry, May 17 to October 10, 1864; private, M Company, 8th Illinois Cavalry, February 2 to July 17, 1865; cadet, USMA July 1, 1869 (12th); second lieutenant, 8th Cavalry, June 13, 1873; transferred to 7th Cavalry, June 26, 1876; first lieutenant, September 30, 1877; regimental quartermaster, November 7, 1887 to November 6, 1891; captain, March 22, 1892; major, 10th Cavalry, May 31, 1901; transferred to 7th Cavalry October 2, 1902; brevet captain, February 27, 1890, for gallant service in action against Indians at Canyon Creek, Montana Territory, September 13, 1877.
Best wishes, Fred.
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Post by markmck on Dec 30, 2019 21:29:53 GMT -6
Here is the picture I found.
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