No. of Co. Jan. 1, 1865
Commissioned Officers 1

Enlisted Men 93

 

Aggregate 94

 

Number Gained

Com Officers

By Promotion 2

Enlisted Men

Enlisted 0

Recruits Assigned 10

From Desertion 0

 

Aggregate 12

 

Number Lost

Com Officers

Dismissed 0

Discharged 0

Resigned 0

Enlisted Men

Deserted 3

Died

Killed in action 2

of Disease 1

By accident 0

Discharged

Expiration of Service 0

For Disability 2

By Orders 2

 

Aggregate 10

 

No. of Co. Dec 31, 1865

Commisioned Officers 3

Enlisted Men 93

 

Aggregate 96

The headquarters of the company was unchanged and stationary at O’Fallons Bluffs N.T. (Nebraska Territory) for the year 1865, during which time they built an adobe Fort of the following dimensions, to wit; 152 by 134 feet on out side walls, all of which have port holes. There is an open parade in the center and ample quarters & stabling in connection with the outside walls to accomodate comfortably, one full squadron of Cavalry- "Fort Heath", O’Fallons Bluffs, is defensible from all approaches and could be held against any force of hostile indians.

The company traveled during the year 4500 miles as follows, 2540 miles on scouts and expeditions and 1960 miles on escort and picket duty. The escort duty performed was mainly with the Overland Stage coaches from Morrow’s to Alkali Stations, and with Government wagon trains between Forts Kearney and Laramie.

Not to give details of smaller scouts, the company was with the following expeditions, viz;

The expedition of General Mitchell, from Post Cottonwood, N.T. to the Republican river in January, and the expedition of Col. Livingston, from Nebraska to Colorado in February, having traveled 300 miles in January and 490 miles in February and repaired 27 ½ miles of telegraph line destroyed by hostile indians between Julesburg, C.T. (Colorado Territory) and

Mud Springs, N.T.. On the 7th of March Captain Wilcox and twenty five enlisted men of the company started under orders from O’Fallons Bluffs enroute to Fort Laramie, distant 250 miles where they arrived March 20th and were temporarily there on duty till May 3rd, when they started on an expedition under command of Col. Moonlight, from Fort Laramie to the Wind River mountains (or "the snowy range") at the head tributaries of Powder and Wind Rivers- thence south along the base of the mountain to the Sweet-water and Willow Creek ranges- thence east to Red Buttes, and from thence down North Platte to Fort Laramie where they arrived May 22nd having traveled 600 miles.

Receiving orders, they left Fort Laramie enroute to O’Fallons Bluffs, June 11th was in action at Horse Creek, June 14th, and arrived at O’Fallons Bluffs June 25th, since when a detachment of the company was with General Heath’s expedition and in the action at Whitemans Fork October 30, 1865.

The general health, condition, and military appearance of the company is good, they are also well clad and under excellent discipline.

John Wilcox

Capt. Co. "B". 7th Iowa Cav.

Several of the above people, places, and events are described in detail in the book ‘The Indian War of 1864’ by Eugene F. Ware, Capt. Co. F, 7th Iowa Cavalry

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