Yates and French

[rch]

In his report on the Yellowstone Fight in 1873, Custer stated that Hart and French were wing commanders. Yates commanded a squadron. Was French senior to Yates? Was French temporarily replaceing a senior Capt that day? Does anyone have access to any of the yearly Army Registers for the 1870's? The Registers listed officers by seniority. I haven't been able to find any registers earlier than the 1890's in the catalogue for the New York Public Library.

rch

[markland]

RCH, Heitman has this info for Yates & French.

Yates, George W. N Y. N Y.
QM sergt 4 Mich inf 20 June 1861; 1 lt 26 Sept 1862.; hon must out 28 June 1864; 1 lt 45 MO inf 24 Aug 1864; capt 13 MO cav 22 Sept 1864; bvt maj vols 13 Mar 1865 for gal and mer ser dur the war and lt col vols 13 Mar 1865 for conspicuous gallantry at Fredericksburg and Beverly Ford Va and at Gettysburg Pa; hon must out 11 Jan 1866; 2 lt 2 cav 26 Mar 1866; r q m 12 May to 28 Oct 1867; capt 7 cav 12 June 1867; killed 25th June 1876 at the Little Big Horn River, Mont.

French, Thomas Henry. Md. Army
Pvt 10 inf 13 Jan to 9 June 1864; 2 It 10 inf 18 May 1864; 1 lt 23 June 1864; capt 26 Mar 1868; unassd 19 May 1869; assd to 7 cav 1 Jan 1871; retd 5 Feb 1880; bvt capt 18 Aug 1864 for gal ser dur the
operations on the Weldon r r Va; died 27 Mar 1882.

Looks like Yates was senior in actual rank. I am not sure how French's brevet to Captain in the Regulars is counted (Aug. 18, 1864).

I am going over to Leavenworth tonight and while there will see what Army Registers they have on microfiche. I have seen them, I just don't know what dates they have (nor exactly where I saw them ) Also, I think the Army-Navy Journal has them post-Civil War.

Billy

P.S. While looking up French's info, I spotted 2d Lieutenant James Hansell French, 9th Cav., who was killed in action with Apaches in the San Mateo Mtns. on Jan. 17, 1880. Does anyone know if they were related? Lt. French was born in Pennsylvania and appointed to West Point from Louisiana. He entered July 1, 1869, appointed and served from 06/17/74 with the 9th Cav. to 08/31/1876 at which date he resigned. He rejoined 08/10/78 as a 2d Lt. in the 9th Cav.