Pvt Vincent <I>Vinzenz Schärli</I> Charley

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Pvt Vincent Vinzenz Schärli Charley Veteran

Birth
Zell, Wahlkreis Willisau, Luzern, Switzerland
Death
25 Jun 1876 (aged 27)
Little Big Horn Battle Site, Big Horn County, Montana, USA
Burial
Crow Agency, Big Horn County, Montana, USA Add to Map
Plot
Section A, grave 455
Memorial ID
View Source
Private (Farrier), Company D, 7th US Cavalry Regiment. He was killed, along with General George A. Custer and most of the 7th Cavalry, during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

He enlisted in the 7th Cavalry on March 4, 1871, at age 22, giving his previous occupation as Farmer. He had hazel eyes, red hair, a sandy complexion, and was 5 feet, 10 1/4 inches tall. He deserted on June 21, 1874, and was apprehended that same date. Pleading guilty to the charge of AWOL, he was sentenced to confinement for ten days on bread and water, per General Court-martial Order 74, Dept of the South, Louisville, Kentucky, dated August 26, 1872. He was discharged on March 4, 1876, at Fort Abraham Lincoln, North Dakota, upon expiration of his term of service, and reenlisted the next day.

Late in the afternoon of June 25, 1876, troops commanded by Captain Thomas Weir made an abortive attempt to contact the Custer column. When the troops reached Weir Point, warriors on Last Stand Hill saw them and moved to counter-attack. After a brief skirmish, the cavalry retreated back towards their previous position on the bluff now called Reno's Hill. Charley was shot through the hips just as the withdrawal on Weir Point began. Unable to mount or walk, he crawled after his departing comrades. Lieutenant Edgerly called back for him to hide in a nearby ravine until the company could be formed to rescue him, thus leaving Charley to his fate. His body was later found with a stick rammed down his throat.

Private (Farrier), Company D, 7th US Cavalry Regiment. He was killed, along with General George A. Custer and most of the 7th Cavalry, during the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

He enlisted in the 7th Cavalry on March 4, 1871, at age 22, giving his previous occupation as Farmer. He had hazel eyes, red hair, a sandy complexion, and was 5 feet, 10 1/4 inches tall. He deserted on June 21, 1874, and was apprehended that same date. Pleading guilty to the charge of AWOL, he was sentenced to confinement for ten days on bread and water, per General Court-martial Order 74, Dept of the South, Louisville, Kentucky, dated August 26, 1872. He was discharged on March 4, 1876, at Fort Abraham Lincoln, North Dakota, upon expiration of his term of service, and reenlisted the next day.

Late in the afternoon of June 25, 1876, troops commanded by Captain Thomas Weir made an abortive attempt to contact the Custer column. When the troops reached Weir Point, warriors on Last Stand Hill saw them and moved to counter-attack. After a brief skirmish, the cavalry retreated back towards their previous position on the bluff now called Reno's Hill. Charley was shot through the hips just as the withdrawal on Weir Point began. Unable to mount or walk, he crawled after his departing comrades. Lieutenant Edgerly called back for him to hide in a nearby ravine until the company could be formed to rescue him, thus leaving Charley to his fate. His body was later found with a stick rammed down his throat.


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