Dr. Porter

[Jimbo]

I was looking for ino on 7th cav. surgeons & doctors on google & was referred to your site surprisingly dedicated solely to Little Big Horn buffs- it's fantastic, I'm so elated! I was looking for Dr. Porters full name on the internet & that's when I got a hit on your site. I looked in My Little Big Horn books but found no references other than "Dr. Porter". I was also wondering how it was that those particular surgeons happened to be assigned to Terry's command. Possibly because they were previously aquainted with the officers in command from mutual association during the Civil war years or just arbitrarily chosen at random to accompany Terry's column? Would anyone know what his full name was or where I could look up it up. One of my better books is: "In The Valley of The Little Big Horn" by Robert C. Kain, where I saw several references to Dr. Porter. In looking up the roster of those killed I see that a private by the name of John Parker of Co. I was killed in Custer's command, maybe a distant relative of mine (another project)...... Thanks

[Ephriam Dickson]

You might also check out the other part of this website which includes a list of names of people involved with some biographical information. For example, here is the link to the page with Dr. Porter's full name:

www.lbha.org/Cavalry/NameP.htm

For more information, see "The Medical Service and the Wounded", chapter 23 in John S. Gray's important book TEXTCentennial Campaign: The Sioux War of 1876TEXT (pp. 270-283). Gray provides considerable information about Dr. Porter and his treatment of the wounded.

You can also find a more full description of the Army's Medical Department during this period at this website:

history.amedd.army.mil/booksdocs/spanam/gillet3/default.html

Hope this helps!

Ephriam

[Steve Wilk]

Ken Hammer's _Men With Custer_ contains quite a bit on Dr. Henry Rinaldo Porter. There was no prior association with Terry. Dr. Porter received his MD from Georgetown University in 1872; then entered into contract in Washington DC for service with the army in Arizona Territory. He served as surgeon in the field with the 5th Cavalry and saw several skirmishes; even being cited by Gen. Crook for "conspicuous gallantry". After his contract ended with the 5th, he journeyed to San Francisco, later to contract again with the army, this time in Dakota Territory. He became a rather prominent and respected citizen of the budding community of Bismarck, holding several titles and post within the territory, including "Commissioner for the Insane" of Burleigh County. Porter was quite a world traveler, visiting Europe, S. America, Mexico and the Carribean after his Indian War service. He in fact died, and is buried in Agra, India, where he succumbed to heart disease in 1903 at the rather young age of 54. Quite an interesting individual who performed his duty to fullest while an army surgeon.

As for John Parker: enlisted in Chicago in 1872; born Birmingham, England 1849. Not much other info about him. He was docked $10 pay for AWOL in Kentucky in 1873.