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Bill Thayer

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 [decorative delimiter] Class of 1869

Vol. III
p134
2291

(Born Mich.)

Charles Braden

(Ap'd Mich.)

19

Born Detroit, MI.​a

Military History. — Cadet at the Military Academy, Oct. 17, 1865, to June 15, 1869, when he was graduated and promoted in the Army to

Second Lieut., 7th Cavalry, June 15, 1869.

Served: on frontier duty at Ft. Leavenworth, Kan., Sep. 30, 1869, to Mar. 19, 1870, — Ft. Lyon, Col., to May, 1870, — Scouting in Colorado and Kansas, to Nov., 1870, — and Ft. Wallace, Kan., Nov. 4, 1870, to May, 1871; in garrison at Columbia, S. C., Oct. to June 8, 1871,º — Winnsborough, S. C., to Oct., 1871, — Yorkville, S. C., Oct. 14, 1871, to Dec. 18, 1872 (leave of absence, May 21 to Aug. 16, 1872), — and New Orleans, La., Dec. 23, 1872, to Mar. 31, 1873; on frontier duty at Yankton, Dak., Apr. 12 to May 7, 1873, — and on Yellowstone Expedition, to Sep. 21, 1873, being engaged in the Action of Big Horn River, Aug. 11, 1873, when he was severely wounded,​1Ft. Lincoln, Dak., Sep. to Oct. 31, 1873; on temporary duty at Headquarters Department of Dakota, Oct. 13, 1873, to Mar. 13, 1874; on sick leave of absence, Mar. 13,

(First Lieut., 7th Cavalry, Dec. 9, 1875)

1874, to June 28, 1878 (on Mounted Recruiting Service, Aug. 18 to Sep. 30, 1876).

Retired from Active Service, June 28, 1878,
for Disability from Wounds Received in Battle.

Civil History. — Teacher of Private School at Riverdale, N. Y., 1878‑79, and at West Point, N. Y., 1879‑81, and since 1882. Manufacturer,  p135 Philadelphia, Pa., 1881‑82. Professor of Military Science, New York Military Academy, Cornwall, N. Y., since Oct. 29, 1889.

Vol. IV
p189
[Supplement, Vol. IV: 1890‑1900]

Military History. — Retired officer.

(Brevet 1st Lieutenant, Feb. 27, 1890, for gallant and meritorious services in action against Indians on the Big Horn River, Mont., Aug. 11, 1873, where he was severely wounded)

Civil History. — Proprietor of National Preparatory Academy at Highland Falls, N. Y., and Cornwall, N. Y., from 1890 to –––––; Member of Military Service Institution U. S. A.; of Cavalry Association U. S. A.; Member of Association of Graduates U. S. Military Academy and its Secretary, from June, 1880 to ––––

Vol. V
p160
[Supplement, Vol. V: 1900‑1910]

Military History. — Retired officer. — Residence, Highland Falls, N. Y.

Civil History. — Proprietor of National Preparatory Academy at Highland Falls, N. Y., and Cornwall, N. Y., from Sept., 1890 to –––––; Secretary of Association of Graduates U. S. Military Academy, from June, 1880 to June, 1900, and from June, 1907 to –––––; Compiler of Volume V, Cullum Register of Graduates U. S. M. A.

— Recommended by troop commander to brevet of captain, and for medal of honor for services in Yellowstone Expedition of 1873; Charter member of Highland Falls, N. Y. Fire Department; entitled to Indian campaign medal and member­ship of Society of Indian Wars.

Vol. VI
p142
[Supplement, Vol. VI: 1910‑1920]

(Born Nov. 23, 1847.)

Military History. —

First Lieut., 7th Cavalry, Dec. 9, 1875.

First Lieut., U. S. A., Retired, June 28, 1878,
For Disability From Wounds in Line of Duty.

Recommended for Brevet of Captain and for Medal of Honor for services in Yellowstone Expedition of 1873; entitled to Indian Campaign Medal and to member­ship in Society of Indian Wars.

Civil History. — After retirement, resided almost continuously at West Point, N. Y., or at the nearby village of Highland Falls; Principal of Post School, and of the National Preparatory Academy at Highland Falls and at Cornwall, N. Y., where he prepared for admission to the Military Academy hundreds of success­ful candidates for cadet­ships; for thirty‑one years Secretary of the Association of Graduates of the U. S. Military Academy; collaborated with General Indicates a West Point graduate, Class of 1833: a link to his biographical entry in Cullum's Register.Cullum and with Dr. Indicates a West Point graduate, Class of 1870: a link to his biographical entry in Cullum's Register.Holden in the preparation of Volumes I, II, III and IV of this Register; editor of Volume V.

Died, Jan. 15, 1919, at Highland Falls, N. Y.: Aged 71.

Portrait and obituary in Annual Report, Association of Graduates, for 1919.

Vol. VII
p96
[Supplement, Vol. VII: 1920‑1930]

Awarded posthumously:

Distinguished Service Cross.

"For extraordinary heroism in action against the Sioux Indians near the mouth of the Big Horn River, Montana, Aug. 11, 1873. Lieutenant Braden, with twenty men, having been attacked by nearly two hundred Indians, although severely wounded in the encounter, by his personal gallantry and splendid leader­ship, so inspired his small command as to enable it to repulse the attack by overwhelmingly superior numbers."

Buried, West Point Cemetery, West Point, NY.


The Author's Note:

1 General Indicates a West Point graduate and gives his Class.Custer, in his official report of Aug. 15, 1873, says:

"A mounted party of nearly 200 Sioux warriors rode boldly to within thirty yards of Lieut. Braden's position, when the latter and his command delivered such a well-directed fire that the Indians were driven rapidly from that part of the field, after having suffered considerable loss. Unfortunately, Lieut. Braden received a rifle-ball through the upper part of the thigh, passing directly through the bone, but he maintained his position with great gallantry and coolness until he had repulsed the enemy."

Thayer's Note: The Army takes care of its own: for what the repatriation of a wounded soldier meant in the Far West in those days, see the details given of Lt. Braden's return to his stockade hundreds of miles away, in the AOG obituary of Jenifer H. Smallwood, the classmate in charge of it.

Thayer's Note:

a Lt. Braden's birthplace is from his AOG obituary.


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