View source for John Sims

Private John J. Sims, from Johnson County, Illinois, arrived at [[Fort Abraham Lincoln]] at the same time as Conlan ([[21 October 1875]]) and was also assigned to Company D.  As they were both on detached service at the [[Powder River Depot]] it is not unreasonable to assume that could have become fast friends. Sims deserted from [[Fort Rice]] on [[20 January 1877]] but gave himself up at [[Standing Rock]] on [[25 February 1877]]. He, too, was found guilty of desertion by a General Court Martial, held on 10 May 1877, dishonorably discharged and sentenced to “two years confinement in the military prison at [[Fort Leavenworth]].”  Clearly he was still incarcerated at Fort Rice almost five weeks later. His fate remains unknown.