LBH 7/B Vet's Fort Custer Reference Letter & Crest

[berger1876]

I would like to share with the members of this forum a letter I recently inherited that belonged to a relative on my Grandfather's side of the family, Stephen Ryan. I have reasons to believe Stephen was my Great, Great Grandfather, and I am collecting official documents to confirm this lineage.

Stephen was born in Ireland in 1839 and immigrated to the United States (via NYC) in 1849 as a result of the Irish Potato Famine. He eventually enlisted in the 7th Cavalry Co. B in 1874, fought in the Battle of Little Bighorn at the Pack Train and Hilltop, and assisted Col. Reno with the rescue of Lt. Hodgson’s body from the banks of the river.

The letter looks to be a reference for Stephen attesting to his service (following Little Bighorn) as a civilian contractor at Fort Custer, Montana, "since its commencement" to the departure date on the letter, April 1879. It is signed by the post commander, LT. Colonel Brackett, of the 2nd Cavalry.

The reverse side of this letter has a pencil drawing of a coat of arms with a royal looking crown at the top and the date 1876 in the center, and an "H" or a Roman numeral II above the date. According to some expert opinions, Stephen or someone else at the Fort may have been trying to come up with a crest for Ft. Custer or a battlefield/cemetery monument. With Stephen being born in Ireland, maybe the symbol in the center above the 1876 might be an "H" and the H stands for Hibernians, as in the Ancient Order Of (AOH)?

After Stephen left Ft. Custer in 1879 he reenlisted in the army. He died in 1885 of Bright’s Disease in Bismarck, ND, where my immediate family on my mother’s side originates. He is buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery.

I would be very appreciative if anyone on this board could share greater insight into my letter, crest, and/or Stephen's service with the 7th/Ft. Custer. Furthermore, I would be happy to email a high res color scan of this letter to anyone interested in reviewing upon request. My email address is [e-mail].

Thank you.

Best regards,
Michael Berger

[berger1876]

As a follow up to my initial post, following is a transcription of Stephen Ryan's letter.


Headquarters Fort Custer, Montana.

April 22nd 1879

To whom it may concern,

The barer of this letter Stephen Ryan, has been employed at this post since its commencement. He has proved himself a trustworthy and reliable man, and whomever may employ him will no doubt find him so. He leaves this place with the good will of all the officers who have had him engaged.

A.G. Brackett
Lieut. Col. Second Cavalry
Commanding Post

[elisabeth]

What a nice thing to have.

Only guessing, but if it's a Roman numeral II rather than an H, could it stand for "2nd Cavalry"? Or one other possibility: I seem to remember that before Fort Custer was officially named, it was known as Post No. 2 -- with what eventually became Fort Keogh, originally known as the Tongue River Cantonment, being Post No. 1. Given the 1876 date in the device, could it have been a coat of arms commemorating the post's foundation?

[clw]

If you email the scan to Diane, she'll post it here. I'd love to see it!

The Post 2 theory sounds like a strong possibility, Elizabeth.

[berger1876]

Yes, the Post #2 and 2nd Cavalry theories make sense. Thanks for your thoughts on this.

Diane, could you please send me an e-mail so that I can reply with an attachment of Stephens letter featuring this crest to post of the board? my email address is [e-mail].

Thank you.

Regards,
Michael

[doyle1876]

berger,

Any idea which county in Ireland he was born in? The documentation I have only states that he was born in Ireland. A new website will now allow you to search for your Irish relations and find baptismal certs, marriage certs etc.

Through this database, I have located 3 Stephen Ryans born in 1839 - two in County Tipperary and one in County Cork.

For those interested, the website is ifhf.brsgenealogy.com/index.php

There are fees, something that has generated controversy here, but the gathering of this information is to be commended.

[berger1876]

Research efforts to date, including the collection of birth, marriage and death documentation, has yet to confirm any direct lineage I may have with the Stephen L. Ryan mustered with the 7th Cavalry, Company B.

I can, confirm, however, that my Great, Great Grandfather on my mother’s father’s side is named Stephen Ryan who, like the Ryan of 7/B, was born in Ireland, lived during the same period, and was stationed at Ft. Custer since the fort’s conception following LBH. However, my Great Grandfather Ryan fathered my Great Grandmother Kathryn Ryan in 1890. The Ryan of 7/B died in Bismarck in 1885. Coincidentally, this is where my immediate family originates. But, this conceivement would be a physical impossibility, unless there is a date error somewhere. I have yet to determnine when my Great, Great Grandfether Ryan died.

Based on my family owned letters I shared providing references for a Stephen Ryan at Ft. Custer and at Ft. Ellis, Montana, dated April 1879 and Sept. 1879 respectfully, could it have been possible that there was a second Stephen Ryan, being my Great, Great Grandfather, employed at the forts as a civilian, as implied in the letters? I’m sure it is possible, there were hundreds of Ryans in the mid-west at that time, but the evidence I have thus far, including the letters and the hand drawn 1876 crest, would make this very coincidental.

Are there any member of this forum who has researched Ft. Custer and/or Ft. Ellis that may have documentation as to the forts’ civilian and military staff? I’d like to see if there was ever any record of two Stephen Ryans being at the same place at the same time. Furthermore, any theories or thoughts as to how I can solve this mystery would be greatly appreciated. I feel like I am missing a big piece of the puzzle…

Thank you.

Regards,
Michael Berger

[Diane Merkel]

Sorry for the delay!