View source for Charles Scott

lace of Birth: Not stated

Date of enlistment: 20 November 1873

Age given at enlistment: 22

Rank: Private

Company: I

Location on 25 June 1876: With Custer's column


A Cook from somewhere north of the border

Charles Scott, place of birth in Scotland unknown,* had blue eyes,  brown hair,  a fair complexion, and was 5′ 9″ tall.

He spent much of his service detached to the QM Dept. as a teamster.

In the Black Hills Expedition (1874).

Was killed with Custer’s column and listed as CHAS. SCOTT on the battle monument.

Final Statement of Private Charles Scott [Captain Michael Sheridan's Company] signed by 1st Lieut. W.S. Edgerly, Commanding Company, at Fort Abraham Lincoln on 31 January 1877.

    DUE SOLDIER
    For retained pay under act of May 15, 1872 … $7.23
    For clothing not drawn in kind … $64.28
    Proceeds of sale of effects [April 26, 1877] … $6.75
    DUE UNITED STATES
    For tobacco … $1.14
    The above statement does not take into account basic pay due for the period May 1 to June 25, 1876.

 

His widowed mother, Mary Scott, age 74, who  resided in Piney Flats, Sullivan County, Tennessee, applied for a pension in April 1881 but was turned down on the grounds she could not provide any evidence that her soldier son had contributed to her support for three years prior to his death (Military Register, p. 268). Affiants (neighbours) claim to have been personally acquainted with him and having known Mary Scott for 20 years or more. Charles was her only son, and she was reliant on her daughter and son-in-law for support. His father was John G. Scott, died Nov. 19, 1858, place not given (information from Roger Williams).

Note (*): Scott had arrived in America at a very early age (date unknown) and it is quite likely he never knew, or at least remembered, the town of his birth at the time of his enlistment.