Civilian employees

[SteveWillis]

My gg grandfather, Walter Francis "Frank" Reeves (1838-1916) was a private in the 5th Michigan Cavalry Co. G 1864-1865. He was moved to the 1st Cavalry in June 1865 and sent out West to places like Fort Leavenworth, Fort Laramie, and Fort Douglas. He took part in the battle at Willow Springs, Dakota Terr. in Aug. 1865. Frank was mustered in Fort Douglas, Utah Terr. Mar. 1866.

He returned to Michigan, but we lose track of him from about 1872 to 1884. There is a family story he returned to work for the military as a civilian scout, and was somehow connected to LBH. Any ideas on how could ascertain the validity of this rumor?

[Diane Merkel]

Welcome, Steve!

There was a younger Francis M. Reeves from Indiana who was wounded at LBH, so perhaps he is the root of your family rumor. You may wish to get copies of your ancestor's service records from the National Archives at www.archives.gov/research_room/obtain_copies/veterans_service_records.htm to see if there was additional military service after his 1866 discharge.

Good luck!
Diane

[SteveWillis]

Thank you for the Francis M. Reeves tip, I'll look into that and see if there is a connection. My Frank Reeves does not have any service record in his military papers after 1866. He came to Washington Territory in 1889 from Michigan and died in Centralia in 1916. His grave is unmarked and I am currently applying for a headstone from the Feds in their program for marking veterans. It was in the course of researching his military service that I ran across the rumor he worked as a civilian scout.