Step by step instructions for driving can be a wonderful thing. However, sometimes when they add too many steps it can become very confusing. That is exactly what happened to me. I followed the step by step, but ended up getting turned around. So, I pulled out my trusty iPhone and entered the information and ended up getting on the right track. I used to tell my girls that the U-turn was invented for me. I am also learning that the hour times seem to take me one hour longer. Is it because I make U-turns?
In reading the document that was sent to me by one of my cousins some of my questions have been answered and more questions have been raised in my mind. My question about whether or not my great grandmother, Mary Catherine Kissane, was at Ft. Davis, TX with my great grandfather has been answered by the fact that they were not yet married.
In 1860, John O'Donnell returned to Boston to visit family and friends. Then he was reassigned to Fort Columbus, New York on November 11, 1860 where he worked as a recruiter. He married Mary Catherine Kissane, who was born in 1834 in Limerick, Ireland, November 25k 1861 at St. Peter's Church on Barclay Street in New York City.
On October 3, 1862, John O'Donnell rejoined the 8th Infantry and was assigned to Company B. They were assigned to the Maryland side of the Patomac River. John O'Donnell was sent to Fort Columbus for dischard on January 3, 1863.
John and Mary O'Donnell purchased and operated a saloon at Number 2 Morris St., New York
City. About one year later, they sold this saloon and purchased another at Number 1 Bridge Street. They sold the saloon and John O'Donnell enlisted in the army on October 11, 1866. He was 35 years old now. He was assigned to Compnay C of the 4th Infantry. The 4th Infantry was assigned to the Military Division of the Missouri Department of the Platte. Company C was garrisoned at Fort Laramie.
City. About one year later, they sold this saloon and purchased another at Number 1 Bridge Street. They sold the saloon and John O'Donnell enlisted in the army on October 11, 1866. He was 35 years old now. He was assigned to Compnay C of the 4th Infantry. The 4th Infantry was assigned to the Military Division of the Missouri Department of the Platte. Company C was garrisoned at Fort Laramie.
In late 1867, John O'Donnell, his wife, Mary, and his two sons came to Fort Laramie. Fort Laramie was referred to as the "Queen of the Frontier" in contrast to Fort Sedgwick which was known as "The Hell Hole on the Platte". My cousin's record states that "Regimental records for 1868 state that Sergeant John O'Donnell was on detail at the Saw Mill, mear Laramie Peak, until May 1868." In my visit today, I did not see any saw mill.
In May of 1868, Company C was transfered to Fort Fetterman, but this would not be the last of Ft. Laramie for John O'Donnell. On October 11, 1874, John O'Donnell reenlisted at Fort Laramie. He was now 43 years old. The last of the O'Donnell children, Albert Daniel, was born here.
Tomorrow will take me to Fort Fetterman and Fort Fred Steele. That will be the end of my journey of forts, but not the end of my journey. On Sunday, I will begin a good visit with my cousin, Cornelius Kelly and his wife, Kate, in Pinedale, WY. What kind of gossip will I be able to blog about there?
Excellent blog, MaryKay! I'm a casual student of the plains indian wars of the 1860s and '70s and your tour covers some of that ground. Fort Fetterman was one of the most hard luck spots in a hard luck territory for both the US Army and the plains indians, named for an unfortunate captain massacred with his entire commmand (80 men) near Fort Phil Kearny in 1866. It was an important staging area for the 1876 Sioux War (Custer Massacre) and after the army left it became one of the most notorious hell-hole frontier towns in the west:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.wyomingtalesandtrails.com/fetterman.html
Have fun tomorrow: I envy you.