United States Army Officer. Fought in the Civil War and the Indian Wars. Most noted for getting the notorious Captain Jack (Modoc Indian leader) to surrender. Born in Massachusetts, his parents moved the family to Ohio and set up a farm about 1836. In 1849, Elmer was appointed to West Point, where he graduated with the Class of 1853. He was initially assigned to the 1st Cavalry in Texas and fought with the Indians there. Other pre-Civil War assignments included California and Utah (Mormon Rebellion). During the Civil War he was assigned to the 1st US Cavalry and later, the 4th US Cavalry, as part of the Army of Tennessee. He was recommended twice for promotion to Brevet Brigadier General by General Rosecrans, but no action was taken. On 24 Oct 1861, he married Agnes Boone, daughter of Indian Agent Albert Gallatin Boone and Anna Reid Hamilton, and great-granddaughter of famed Daniel Boone. Together, they had 10 children: 5 girls and 5 boys. During the Indian Wars, he participated in a number of campaigns, and in 1876, after the disasterous Battle of the Little Big Horn, he was given command of the nearly destroyed 7th Cavalry to reconstitute the unit. In 1880, he was a member of the Court-martial Board that dismissed Major Marcus A. Reno from the Army. Following his retirement in 1890, he started a ranch in Oregon, and in 1892 moved to San Diego, to be with his son. He was buried in the Catholic Cemetery in Mission Hills (now a suburb of San Diego), and the cemetery was later made into a park. His gravestone was relocated to one wall.
United States Army Officer. Fought in the Civil War and the Indian Wars. Most noted for getting the notorious Captain Jack (Modoc Indian leader) to surrender. Born in Massachusetts, his parents moved the family to Ohio and set up a farm about 1836. In 1849, Elmer was appointed to West Point, where he graduated with the Class of 1853. He was initially assigned to the 1st Cavalry in Texas and fought with the Indians there. Other pre-Civil War assignments included California and Utah (Mormon Rebellion). During the Civil War he was assigned to the 1st US Cavalry and later, the 4th US Cavalry, as part of the Army of Tennessee. He was recommended twice for promotion to Brevet Brigadier General by General Rosecrans, but no action was taken. On 24 Oct 1861, he married Agnes Boone, daughter of Indian Agent Albert Gallatin Boone and Anna Reid Hamilton, and great-granddaughter of famed Daniel Boone. Together, they had 10 children: 5 girls and 5 boys. During the Indian Wars, he participated in a number of campaigns, and in 1876, after the disasterous Battle of the Little Big Horn, he was given command of the nearly destroyed 7th Cavalry to reconstitute the unit. In 1880, he was a member of the Court-martial Board that dismissed Major Marcus A. Reno from the Army. Following his retirement in 1890, he started a ranch in Oregon, and in 1892 moved to San Diego, to be with his son. He was buried in the Catholic Cemetery in Mission Hills (now a suburb of San Diego), and the cemetery was later made into a park. His gravestone was relocated to one wall.
Bio by: Kit and Morgan Benson
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