Thomas Weir (American soldier)
Encyclopedia
Captain Thomas Benton Weir (1838–1876) was an officer in the 7th Cavalry Regiment (United States), notable for his participation in the Battle of the Little Bighorn
, also known as Custer's Last Stand. A hill on the battlefield, Weir Point, is named in his honor.
in June, 1861. He enlisted to fight in the American Civil War
in late August, and was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant in October. In June 1862 Weir was promoted to 1st Lieutenant.
Shortly afterwards he was taken prisoner by the Confederate States Army
and was promoted again, to Captain, during the seven months he was held captive. After his release, Weir was given the job of Assistant Inspector General on the staff of (brevet) Major General George Armstrong Custer
.
on the Great Plains
, Weir commanded Company D of the 7th Cavalry under Custer, joining him in the attack on a large Native American encampment on the Little Bighorn River
in Montana on June 25, 1876. Subordinate to Major Marcus Reno
and Captain Frederick Benteen
, Weir disobeyed orders to remain on what is now called Reno Hill. Instead, Weir (and eventually other soldiers including Benteen) moved north to attempt to support Custer, who had led a detachment to attack the encampment from that direction. The effort was too late to save Custer and over 200 of his men, all of whom were killed.
warriors were present in very large numbers. From this area the surviving members of the 7th Cavalry withdrew back to the already-established defensive positions on Reno Hill.
In the present era, Weir Point is a modest pull-off on the paved lane that ends at Reno Hill, also known as the Reno-Benteen Battlefield. Weir Point is marked with an illustrated roadside sign naming the hill and showing an artist's rendition of what the artist believed Weir and those with him saw: clouds of dust rising from the bluffs to the north where Custer and his men were wiped out.
, hinting at untold matters regarding her husband's death. Formally posted back in New York City on recruiting duty, in the final months of his life he refused to go outside, began to drink heavily and in his last days was said to be extremely nervous, to the point of being unable to swallow. He died in New York City less than six months after Custer, reportedly in a state of extreme depression
. He was buried at the Fort Columbus
post cemetery on Governors Island
in New York City. In the 1880s his remains were reinterred at Cypress Hills National Cemetery
in Brooklyn, New York.
Battle of the Little Bighorn
The Battle of the Little Bighorn, also known as Custer's Last Stand and, by the Indians involved, as the Battle of the Greasy Grass, was an armed engagement between combined forces of Lakota, Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho people against the 7th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army...
, also known as Custer's Last Stand. A hill on the battlefield, Weir Point, is named in his honor.
Civil War Experience
Weir graduated from the University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in June, 1861. He enlisted to fight in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
in late August, and was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant in October. In June 1862 Weir was promoted to 1st Lieutenant.
Shortly afterwards he was taken prisoner by the Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
and was promoted again, to Captain, during the seven months he was held captive. After his release, Weir was given the job of Assistant Inspector General on the staff of (brevet) Major General George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer was a United States Army officer and cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. Raised in Michigan and Ohio, Custer was admitted to West Point in 1858, where he graduated last in his class...
.
Battle of the Little Bighorn
During the Indian WarsIndian Wars
American Indian Wars is the name used in the United States to describe a series of conflicts between American settlers or the federal government and the native peoples of North America before and after the American Revolutionary War. The wars resulted from the arrival of European colonizers who...
on the Great Plains
Great Plains
The Great Plains are a broad expanse of flat land, much of it covered in prairie, steppe and grassland, which lies west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada. This area covers parts of the U.S...
, Weir commanded Company D of the 7th Cavalry under Custer, joining him in the attack on a large Native American encampment on the Little Bighorn River
Little Bighorn River
The Little Bighorn River is a tributary of the Bighorn River in the United States in the states of Wyoming and Montana. The Battle of the Little Bighorn was fought on its banks in 1876, as well as the Battle of Crow Agency in 1887....
in Montana on June 25, 1876. Subordinate to Major Marcus Reno
Marcus Reno
Marcus Albert Reno was a career military officer in the American Civil War and in the Black Hills War against the Lakota and Northern Cheyenne...
and Captain Frederick Benteen
Frederick Benteen
Frederick William Benteen was a military officer during the American Civil War and then during the Black Hills War against the Lakota and Northern Cheyenne. He is notable for being in command of a battalion of the 7th U. S...
, Weir disobeyed orders to remain on what is now called Reno Hill. Instead, Weir (and eventually other soldiers including Benteen) moved north to attempt to support Custer, who had led a detachment to attack the encampment from that direction. The effort was too late to save Custer and over 200 of his men, all of whom were killed.
Weir Point
Also known as Weir Ridge, Weir Point is about three miles south from where Custer and the soldiers with him were killed after they had first attacked the Native American village. At Weir Point the relief force is said to have realized that not only was Custer beyond help, but that Native AmericanIndigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
warriors were present in very large numbers. From this area the surviving members of the 7th Cavalry withdrew back to the already-established defensive positions on Reno Hill.
In the present era, Weir Point is a modest pull-off on the paved lane that ends at Reno Hill, also known as the Reno-Benteen Battlefield. Weir Point is marked with an illustrated roadside sign naming the hill and showing an artist's rendition of what the artist believed Weir and those with him saw: clouds of dust rising from the bluffs to the north where Custer and his men were wiped out.
Weir's Decline and Death
Deeply shaken by his experience after the famous battle and showing symptoms of post-traumatic stress, Weir's mental health declined rapidly. Weir wrote letters to Custer's widow, Elizabeth Bacon CusterElizabeth Bacon Custer
Elizabeth Bacon Custer was the wife of General George Armstrong Custer. After his death, she became an outspoken advocate for her husband's legacy through her popular books and lectures...
, hinting at untold matters regarding her husband's death. Formally posted back in New York City on recruiting duty, in the final months of his life he refused to go outside, began to drink heavily and in his last days was said to be extremely nervous, to the point of being unable to swallow. He died in New York City less than six months after Custer, reportedly in a state of extreme depression
Depression (mood)
Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behaviour, feelings and physical well-being. Depressed people may feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable, or restless...
. He was buried at the Fort Columbus
Fort Columbus
Fort Columbus was a fortification and army post in Governors Island, New York Harbor, New York City, New York, from 1806 to 1904.-Fort Jay:Fort Columbus was the name of a fortification and later the army post that developed around it...
post cemetery on Governors Island
Governors Island
Governors Island is a island in Upper New York Bay, approximately one-half mile from the southern tip of Manhattan Island and separated from Brooklyn by Buttermilk Channel. It is legally part of the borough of Manhattan in New York City...
in New York City. In the 1880s his remains were reinterred at Cypress Hills National Cemetery
Cypress Hills National Cemetery
Cypress Hills National Cemetery is the only United States National Cemetery in New York City and has more than 21,100 interments of veterans and civilians. There are 24 Medal of Honor recipients buried in the cemetery, including three men who won the award twice...
in Brooklyn, New York.