James M. Rooney
Sergeant
Company F
Born – 1848 (New York City, NY)
Died – August, 5, 1918 (Yankton, SD)
Grave location -- South Dakota Human Services Center Cemetery,
Yankton, South Dakota
He enlisted in the 7th Cavalry on December 3, 1867, in New York
City. He was discharged on December 3, 1872 in Louisville and
re-enlisted the same day by Lt. Cooke. He listed his previous
occupation as gasfitter. He was promoted to segeant on
November 10, 1876. He was discharged on December 3, 1877, at
camp near Fort Buford, D.T., on expiration of service, as a sergeant
of excellent character. He had blue eyes, brown hair, dark
complexion, and was 5’ 8 ¼” tall. His civil occupation
was as a packer and teamster. He resided in Bismarck until
June 28, 1878. He applied for a pension in 1891 but was
denied. He is listed elsewhere as James H. Rooney and
Roonay. He served in the QMD, Fort Meade, SD, in 1908.
He was admitted to the Yankton State Hospital in July 1911. He
died at age 74 at 3:45pm on August 5, 1918, at Yankton State
Hospital. Cause of death was carcinoma of the lip.
Buried in Grave 593, Yankton State Hospital Cemetery (now South
Dakota Human Services Center). At the time of the Little
Bighorn battle, he was a private in F Company assigned to the pack
train and took part in the hilltop fight.
From the book, Camp, Custer, and
the Little Bighorn by Richard G. Hardorff -- "The men who
went back to check on the pack that was lost were Sgt. William A.
Curtiss and Privates James M. Rooney, William Brown, Patrick Bruce,
and Sebastian Omling, all of F Company."
Sgt. James
Rooney, 7th Cavalry