John Jordan Crittenden III
Encyclopedia
John Jordan Crittenden III (June 5, 1854 – June 25, 1876) was an officer in the United States Army
and a member of the Crittenden family, who were prominent in political and military circles throughout the 19th century. He was killed at the Battle of Little Big Horn in the Montana Territory
while on temporary assignment in the 7th U.S. Cavalry under Lt. Col.
George Armstrong Custer
.
He was a son of American Civil War
general Thomas Leonidas Crittenden
and his wife, Catherine Todd. He was a grandson and namesake of former Kentucky
U.S. Senator John J. Crittenden
and the great-grandson of Virginia
politician John Crittenden, Sr.
Young Crittenden received an appointment to the United States Military Academy
in 1873, but failed to graduate, leaving school in 1875. He petitioned President Ulysses S. Grant
for a commission and in the autumn of that year was assigned as a second lieutenant
in the 20th U.S. Infantry.
Before the Little Big Horn campaign the following year, Crittenden was temporarily assigned to Company L of the 7th Cavalry, serving under Captain James Calhoun
. Shortly after his 22nd birthday, he was killed during the Battle of Little Big Horn. His body was identified by a prosthetic glass eye from an earlier injury when a shotgun accidentally discharged in his face. At the specific request of his family, Crittenden was initially buried with his men on what became known as "Calhoun Hill", but his body was exhumed in 1931 and reinterred in the Custer National Cemetery near Crow Agency, Montana
.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and a member of the Crittenden family, who were prominent in political and military circles throughout the 19th century. He was killed at the Battle of Little Big Horn in the Montana Territory
Montana Territory
The Territory of Montana was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 28, 1864, until November 8, 1889, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Montana.-History:...
while on temporary assignment in the 7th U.S. Cavalry under Lt. Col.
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
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...
.
He was a son of 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...
general Thomas Leonidas Crittenden
Thomas Leonidas Crittenden
Thomas Leonidas Crittenden was a lawyer, politician, and Union general during the American Civil War.-Early life:...
and his wife, Catherine Todd. He was a grandson and namesake of former Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
U.S. Senator John J. Crittenden
John J. Crittenden
John Jordan Crittenden was a politician from the U.S. state of Kentucky. He represented the state in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate and twice served as United States Attorney General in the administrations of William Henry Harrison and Millard Fillmore...
and the great-grandson of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
politician John Crittenden, Sr.
John Crittenden, Sr.
John Jordan Crittenden was a Major in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses from 1790 to 1805...
Young Crittenden received an appointment to the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
in 1873, but failed to graduate, leaving school in 1875. He petitioned President Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
for a commission and in the autumn of that year was assigned as a second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the 20th U.S. Infantry.
Before the Little Big Horn campaign the following year, Crittenden was temporarily assigned to Company L of the 7th Cavalry, serving under Captain James Calhoun
James Calhoun (soldier)
James Calhoun was a soldier in the United States Army during the American Civil War and the Black Hills War...
. Shortly after his 22nd birthday, he was killed during the Battle of Little Big Horn. His body was identified by a prosthetic glass eye from an earlier injury when a shotgun accidentally discharged in his face. At the specific request of his family, Crittenden was initially buried with his men on what became known as "Calhoun Hill", but his body was exhumed in 1931 and reinterred in the Custer National Cemetery near Crow Agency, Montana
Crow Agency, Montana
Crow Agency is a census-designated place in Big Horn County, Montana, United States and is near the actual location for the Little Bighorn National Monument and re-enactment known as Custer's Last Stand...
.
External links
- Find A Grave biography of Lt. J. J. Crittenden
- Photo taken in 1877 of Crittenden's initial grave