Rank: Corporal
Unit: K Co, 2d Cavalry
Enlisted: July 5, 1873 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was 24.
Date of birth: 1849
Hometown: Limerick, Ireland
Occupation prior to enlistment: Laborer
Campaign: Plains Indian War (post Civil War)
Died: 9 February 1874
Age at death: 24 or 25
Cause of death: Killed in action by Indians
Location of fatality: Fort Laramie, Wyoming Territory
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Place of interment:Fort McPherson National Cemetery at Maxwell, Nebraska
Click to a new window to view Soldier’s grave site on the Find A Grave website.
Note: He stood 5’10” with blue eyes, brown hair, and fair complexion.
The Daily Independent no. 40 February 11, 1874, page 3, Laramie, Wyoming Territory
FROM FORT LARAMIE
Fort Laramie, Feb, 10–A report came in at eight thirty last evening by the courier from the post train that about ten miles from the mill Lieut. Robinson and Corporal Coleman were surrounded by about forty Indians. A private named Noles, who was near by the Indians, says the last he seen of Robinson, he was leaning forward in his saddle and the Indians were firing at him, and very close. Robinson and the corporal ran towards the mill, and Noles ran toward the train, which was about five miles north of where the attack was made. His horse was shot and killed, so he had to run the distance on foot under the fire of the Indians, until he was near the train, then the Indians turned back.
Bastines left the mill about two hours after Robinson left there, which was an hour after the train had left, but saw nothing of Robinson, Coleman or the Indians.
Captain Egan was ordered out immediately with two company’s (sic) of cavalry, but nothing has been heard from him. The train arrived at two p. m., today.
The Indians made a raid on a ranch yesterday, nine miles from here, and took one horse and fired on the herders. It is expected that a general raid has been made on the Laramie.
Col. Bullock arrived at [Fort] Fetterman yesterday, and says he saw a large party of Indians at the upper crossing of Horse Shoe, singing and dancing. It seemed to be a scalp dance.
The Laramie Daily Sentinel no. 244 February 13, 1874, page 3, Laramie, Wyoming Territory
–The following special dispatch to the LEADER gives a history of the Indian outbreak:
The Mail carrier named Daley, from Red Cloud Agency, has just arrived at Fort Laramie with an Indian escort, and brings the following news…The bodies of Lieut. Robinson and Corporal Coleman have just been brought into the Fort in the most mutilated condition. Captain Egan’s company will arrive to-night (sic) as the Indians crossed back to the agency the same day of the massacre.
Disinterred in 1891 and reburied at Fort McPherson National Cemetery
See James Coleman
Cole was a corporal with Troop K of the 2nd US Cavalry. While second in command of a wood cutting escort detail, he decided, for unknown reasons, to leave the wood party and escort detail to take a short cut back to Ft. Laramie with only 1st Lt Levi Robinson. They never made it. The following day their bodies were found by the wood detail escort. They had been killed by multiple arrow wounds from Sioux warriors. Cole was first buried at the Ft Laramie post cemetery. When the fort closed, his remains were reburied at Ft McPherson.