Captain James Poland, Who Was He??

[John Mackintosh]

There is an 1878 army document for sale on ebay (actually it is the highly reputable firm Alexander Autographs selling it there and in their catalog) that Frederick Benteen signed as well as Captain James Poland, 7th Cavalry Following the brief explanation of who Benteen was, they claim that Poland was on Reno Hill, rumored to have been killed there but was actually shot in the back. I sent in a correction, stating that he wasn't at the battle at all and they posted this on ebay.

Who was Poland? Wasn't he in the 6th Infantry? Any idea how this strange story of him being at the battle came from?

[Walt Cross]

This is probably much too late for your auction, but here is a statement by Captain Poland of the 6th Infantry:

“They report that a small number of cavalry broke through the line of Indians in their rear and escaped, but was overtaken, within a distance of five or six miles, and killed. I infer from this that this body of retreating cavalry was probably led by the missing officers, and that they tried to escape only after Custer fell. The last man was killed by two sons of a Santee Indian, “Red-top,” who was a leader in the Minnesota massacre of ’62 and ’63.”

Colonel W. A. Graham The Custer Myth pp. 45-46.

On a personal note, I believe the officer that led this breakout of horsemen was Lt. Henry Moore Harrington.

Walt

[maaloxmya19]

Poland was in charge of overseeing some Reservations & claimed 2000 Winchesters were sold, backing Custer's claim of LARGE Indian numbers.

Sheridan dismissed his claims by exploiting his ATROCIOUS spelling & even Worse grammar, saying that he contradicted himself. Most Historians follow, BUT as this was BEFORE LBH when the TOADIES were all proclaiming NO Sioux were leaving the reservation, etc. -- and Sheridan was VERY connected to Politicians -- it was just an Argument, designed to Please Washington. Poland was reporting COUNTED weapons sales.

Just the Anti-Whistleblower reflex in full flower.

If your document looks unbelievably misspelled & mangled, it may be Poland, but he was still understandable.

7th cavalry for 6th infantry ?? Not a likely error.

[markland]

From Heitman's Register of the Army, vol.1, p. 796:

"*Poland, John Scroggs. Ind. Ind.

Cadet M A 1 July 1856 (34); 2 It 2 inf 6 May 1861; 1 lt 6 June 1861; rqm 10 Aug 1861 to 27 June 1862; capt 27 June 1862; unassd 17 Apr 1869; assd to 6 inf 14 July 1869; maj 18 inf 15 Dec 1880; lt col
21 inf 1 Mar 1886; col 17 inf 1 Aug 1891; brig gen vols 4 May 1898; bvt maj 13 Dec 1862 for gal and mer ser in the battles of Antietam and Shepardstown Ford Md and Fredericksburg Va and lt col 3 May 1863 for gal and mer ser in the battle of Chancellorsville Va; died 8 Aug 1898."

As you see from above, he was in the 6th Infantry prior to and at the time of LBH.

Billy

[jdmackintosh]

Thanks, all, its nice to know that dormant questions can come back to life on here. I did end up with the document, glad I bought it and thanks for adding these details.