Cpl. McElhaney was the Guidon horseman. His orders were handwritten by Gen. Sully.

Descendant Don McElhaney and Mrs. Thelma McElhaney supplied this information.

Thomas McElhaney--was born May 13, 1838 at Lexington, Rockbridge County, Virginia. After his discharge [see Discharge] he returned to Plymouth County, Iowa, and began farming. Thomas lived on a homestead, four miles south of LeMars, Iowa. He had to make certain improvements to it. Somehow he could not meet the demands of the homestead, so he lost it. Because he was a Civil War Veteran, he was given a second chance and in 1883 he entered a tree claim which was about 8 miles south of Hawarden and about 7 1/2 miles northeast of Akron. This one, he had to plant a certain number of trees, which he was able to do.

Thomas was twice married. It was during his residence in Sioux City that he married Isabel McCurdy, who died at her home in Plymouth County. To that union, three children were born, Fanny, Florence, and an infant who died with its mother during childbirth. Sometime later, he married Minerva McDonald. Their children were: Franklin born Sept. 25, 1876. Nellie born about 1873, Edward born 1874, Jesse born 1879, and Clarissa born 1882.

Thomas died at the Veterans Hospital at Hot Springs, So. Dakota, County of Fall River, November 10, 1914. Thomas and Minerva are both buried in the old portion of Riverside Cemetery in Akron, Iowa. There is a William, Elizabeth, and a Nancy McElhaney buried in block 154 lot 2 of Floyd Cemetery in Sioux City, IA.