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Post by AZ Ranger on Mar 11, 2016 11:41:39 GMT -6
I think Morris was kicked out for fighting. Yep. He was. Now check out this headstone... no date-of-birth. When have you ever seen that?, especially with a reasonably modern stone. Was he trying to cover up lies that preceded him? Whoops!!! Can no longer post pictures... the forum has exceeded it limit. Oh, well! Best wishes, Fred. I am not sure that Morris would be in charge of what it on his headstone. Regards Steve
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Post by fred on Mar 11, 2016 11:49:21 GMT -6
I am not sure that Morris would be in charge of what it on his headstone. I agree... but there is no date-of-birth. All it has is the family name, "Morris," at the top. Then the stone is divided in two. On the left side, the inscriptions read as follows: Sarah A. Morris nee Kench 1861 - 1924 Wife of William E. Morris 7th U. S. Cav Little Big Horn June 25 - 26, 1876 Mother of William E., Jr. Co. I, 201st N. Y. Vol. Inft. 1898 And then there are other inscriptions on the right half. Cemetery records show those people listed are all buried there. And you need the records-- which I have-- to know when he died and when he was buried. Best wishes, Fred.
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willy
New Member
Posts: 8
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Post by willy on Mar 11, 2016 16:28:16 GMT -6
Each company had pack mules, thus "B" also had packers as per statements of August Devoto in his account &c.
Gen. Godfrey indicated [at Powder River] an NCO and four men were detailed as packers and given instructions by the professionals (civilian employes), especially how to tie the "diamond hitch", Chandler, Of Garry Owen in Glory, 54.
Pvt. Kipp in a letter to Walter Camp 21 Dec 1921 said it was some little trouble to teach a man to pack a mule using the Diamond Hitch and an officer needed good reason to substitute a learned man with a green man especially after a four day trip and just going into battle.
Pvt. Johnson, Co. I, said he was detailed to pack train with four others of his company on June 22, (statement ca. 1900, in Dustin Collection).
Willy
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Post by mchlwilson on Mar 11, 2016 19:35:50 GMT -6
I am not sure that Morris would be in charge of what it on his headstone. I agree... but there is no date-of-birth. All it has is the family name, "Morris," at the top. Then the stone is divided in two. On the left side, the inscriptions read as follows: Sarah A. Morris nee Kench 1861 - 1924 Wife of William E. Morris 7th U. S. Cav Little Big Horn June 25 - 26, 1876 Mother of William E., Jr. Co. I, 201st N. Y. Vol. Inft. 1898 And then there are other inscriptions on the right half. Cemetery records show those people listed are all buried there. And you need the records-- which I have-- to know when he died and when he was buried. Best wishes, Fred. Is it possible that he was still living when his wife died? That would explain why no dates were shown for him.
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Post by fred on Mar 12, 2016 6:53:04 GMT -6
Is it possible that he was still living when his wife died? That would explain why no dates were shown for him. Michael, Oh, he was still living when his wife died. The tombstone shows her death at 1924, but Morris died in 1933. At least we know that much!! Here is the quote from Roger Williams' book that started me on this thing: “In his early account of the battle, William E. Morris said each company was provided with six or eight mules which the Old Guard, of which he was one, was compelled to lead, and when he attempted to sleep during the short halt at 3 AM, on June 25, he hitched his horse to the strap of one boot leg and his mule to the other, Morris to Walter Camp….” That is all it takes to start me on one of my quests. As for his DOB, the two dates most bandied about are 1854 and 1858. The family thought he was only 14 when he enlisted and he enlisted in 1875 in Boston. Even the 1858 date would make him 17, but if he was only 14, then he would have been born in 1861; so you can see the confusion here. As far as everyone can figure, Morris never did reveal when he was born. I thank all of you for participating and helping out. This is what makes this site so great. Best wishes, Fred.
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Post by tubman13 on Mar 12, 2016 8:02:10 GMT -6
Fred, Did you catch Carl's post on the other thread with the same name?
Regards, Tom
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Gerry
Junior Member
Peter
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Post by Gerry on Mar 12, 2016 8:15:37 GMT -6
Here is the quote from Roger Williams' book that started me on this thing: “In his early account of the battle, William E. Morris said each company was provided with six or eight mules which the Old Guard, of which he was one, was compelled to lead, and when he attempted to sleep during the short halt at 3 AM, on June 25, he hitched his horse to the strap of one boot leg and his mule to the other, Morris to Walter Camp….” Best wishes, Fred. Company Mules and the Midnight March Pvt Thompson, Co C, stated, “When midnight came you may be sure we moved promptly. Each company had to lead its own pack mules.” The company mules were routinely brought up to the companies for evening camp and meals. During this period because of the night march the mules were kept with the companies as described by both Private Thompson and Private Morris. The company mules were not part of the mule train during the midnight march. Morris described the events of the midnight march in which each company had to lead its own mules which Morris was assigned to lead one of the company mules. After morning breakfast on the 25th the company mules were moved back to the train and remained with the train. Then the assignment was made of the NCO and detail to guard and move the train. Morris was not assigned to this detail. Thompson's account of that night and morning: “On June 24th we reached the Rosebud again where we moved into camp. [...] We received orders in a quiet way to be ready to move that night at twelve o'clock, for the purpose of crossing the divide which separates the Rosebud from the Little Horn River. The men began to ask one another if they were going to travel all the time. We then made preparations for a short nap. No canvas was stretched; no mules were unpacked except those which were carrying the necessary supplies for supper. [...] When midnight came you may be sure we moved promptly. Each company had to lead its own pack mules; it was too dark to see to drive; no moon, simply the faint starlight to guide us. We kept at a lively gait for three hours. As soon as the first faint streaks of daylight appeared we moved into a grove where we were ordered to unsaddle and rest for several hours. A picket line was thrown out and each company detailed some of their own men for the purpose of guarding their own horses and pack mules. [...] The mules were all unpacked and grazing at will. The water was very bad, being full of alkali. At half past six, the cook was awakened to prepare breakfast for the men, and that meal consisted simply of coffee, bacon, and hardtack; a kind of provision all old soldiers are well acquainted with. It was half past eight o'clock when we moved out of camp.” Gerry
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Post by Diane Merkel on Mar 12, 2016 9:32:22 GMT -6
Whoops!!! Can no longer post pictures... the forum has exceeded it limit. Oh, well! Best wishes, Fred. Rats! Sorry! I'll rent some storage from them. I had to do that for the American-Tribes board. Those guys post a lot of photos! Diane Update: We have more storage for attachments/photos now, so feel free to post them. DM
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Carl
Full Member
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Post by Carl on Mar 12, 2016 9:35:15 GMT -6
1860 United States Census Belfast, Waldo, Maine, Number 431
William Morris, age 26 Lavinia T Morris, age 22 William Morris jr, age 2
No birth places are given The occupation of William Morris could be minstrel (hard to read)
This family fits (although not conclusive) and if so, Morris was born 1858
Byron Tarbox is also in Maine in the 1860 census, but living in a different county and with a Webster family.
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Post by fred on Mar 12, 2016 12:03:06 GMT -6
Carl... and Diane,
Carl, that is absolutely marvelous information: I did not have the census data. One quick question so I can update my records properly: the # 431 you list... is that some sort of street address or is it the census form number? (I assume it is the latter, but I am not sure.)
Also something I find interesting. The child's name was William, but even though you show him as "jr.," it appears nowhere on his records. Yet his son was named with the "junior." I would assume, therefore, William Ephraim's father's middle name-- if he had one-- was not Ephraim.
Carl, this is great and I really appreciate it.
And Diane... you see? This is what I keep saying and what you have taught me: these boards are so important; they provide so much great information, even the trivial stuff.
This whole exercise has given me a much greater appreciation of Morris than I had before and it looks like I will have to adjust my feelings about him and pay a little more attention to what he told us. He isn't 100% correct in his accounts-- the passage of time and the lapses in memory account for much of that-- but for the most part what he left behind is top-notch stuff.
Thank you Diane and thank you Carl. You guys are great.
Best wishes, Fred.
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Post by fred on Mar 12, 2016 12:05:04 GMT -6
Did you catch Carl's post on the other thread with the same name? Thomas, my boy!! I shall look for it. By the way, this whole Morris business is your fault. You know that, right? Best wishes, Fred.
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Post by tubman13 on Mar 12, 2016 12:40:36 GMT -6
Fred, There are more bits minutia in that book. The cross over from right to left after scouring the timber. Reno was counting on a solid anchor until the "rest of the outfit" arrived for support. There was little love loss, but there was respect, at least one way!
I see Carl moved that post.
Regards, Tom
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Carl
Full Member
Posts: 125
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Post by Carl on Mar 12, 2016 12:49:28 GMT -6
The US 1900 census was unique in that the Month/Year of birth was recorded, presumbably given by the household member.
1900, Bronx, New York, District 1045, sheet 9
William Morris, Lawyer, born May 1858 Sarah William Jr 2 others
This should settle it, Morris was born in 1858 per his own account.
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Post by fred on Mar 12, 2016 13:12:26 GMT -6
There are more bits minutia in that book. The cross over from right to left after scouring the timber. Reno was counting on a solid anchor until the "rest of the outfit" arrived for support. There was little love loss, but there was respect, at least one way! Tom, Yes, I have picked up a bunch of interesting stuff. He assumes way too much, however, and I think he concentrates too much on one unit at the expense of the others. He is completely wrong about the order of companies moving down the valley-- basic!!-- and he is incorrect as well about the order on the "brow"-- also basic. Too many other accounts contradict his theories. He is also wrong about the location of a number of people. I was not, however, interested in his opinions on that sort of thing, at least unless he brought up something new... which he hasn't. Still, there is some really good stuff in the book. Also, I do not care for his maps: he has some of the topography wrong and this isn't the sort of military event where textbook military symbols should be used. That is only my opinion, however... and I am going to start working on some really decent maps, similar to some I saw in the CBHMA's last issue of Greasy Grass. They seem to be actual terrain photos with movement and position arrows superimposed on them. I need to be able to do something like that. Anyway, it is a good book to have and I will probably buy a copy when I am at the battlefield... hopefully they will have it. Best wishes, Fred.
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Post by fred on Mar 12, 2016 13:14:07 GMT -6
This should settle it, Morris was born in 1858 per his own account. Darn right it does!!! Thanks again, Carl. As I have said so often and for good reason, you are the best. Very best wishes, Fred.
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