Joel H. Elliot
Captain, Company M

Joel Haworth Elliott, son of Mark Elliott and Mary S. Haworth was born October 27, 1840 in Wayne Co., Centre Township, Indiana, and died November 27, 1868 in White Rock, Indian Territory on the Washita River.

Joel  Elliott was born to a stanch pacifist Quaker family in Wayne County, Indiana and lived on the family farm until the age of 21. Joel, however, ended up choosing a different path in life, which undoubtedly caused much concern to his family and Quaker friends. In the furor of the Civil War Joel H. Elliott was moved to enlist in Company C, 2nd Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Cavalry on August 28, 1861.   On August 22, 1963 he was commissioned as First Lieutenant of Company E, 7th Indiana Cavalry. Then on October 21, 1863, he was promoted to Captain of Company M. He fought in various battles throughout the war and survived a critical wound to his left lung and shoulder during the Battle of Brice's Crossroads on June 10, 1864 in Guntown, Miss.

The records of his Quaker Meeting make no mention of him during the time he fought for the Union during the Civil War. However, after the war when Joel decided to make his profession in the military, he was disowned from West Grove Friends Meeting, Wayne County, IN, June 13th, 1867.  "For serving in the army and accepting an office in the army." After the Civil War he served under the command of Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer in Kansas. Through the influence of Governor Morton, the Indiana war governor, he was raised to the rank of Major in the Seventh United States Cavalry.

On 11 October 1867, at Fort Leavenworth, a court martial found Brevet Major General George Armstrong Custer, Lieutenant Colonel, 7th U.S. Cavalry guilty and sentenced him to suspension from rank and command for one year, and forfeiture of his pay for the same time. Major Joel Elliott was put in command of the 7th Cavalry during that year Custer was suspended.

Later in October of 1867 Major Joel Elliott took 150 men from the 7th U.S. Cavalry, and a battery of the 4th to Medicine Lodge Creek to meet with the five major plains tribes to sign a peace treaty. Artillery provided the escort for the "Peace Commission" who were to go to Medicine Lodge Creek (Kansas) and meet the Indians. The troops left Ft. Larned on October 12th, 1867 with over 200 wagons, 30 of which were filled with gifts for the Indians. They arrived at Medicine Lodge Creek on the morning of the 14th. Over 5000 Indians from five different tribes were present at that meeting. By Monday, October 28th, 1867 all tribes present (the Kiowa, the Comanche, the Kiowa-Apache, the Cheyenne and Arapahos) signed the "Medicine Lodge Peace Treaty."

On November 27, 1868, at the Battle of Washita. The 7th U.S. Cavalry lead a surprise attack at dawn on a sleeping Cheyenne village located at White Rock along the banks of the Washita River, Indian Territory.  The chief of that band of Southern Cheyenne was Motatavo (Black Kettle), he and his wife along with a number of thier tribe were killed in that attack. Hanging from the top of his teepee were two flags, an American flag and a white flag. Chief Black Kettle had assured the members of that village that the Americans would not attack them as long as the American flag flew above his teepee. He was dead wrong. Major Elliot was also killed while leading a Left Wing Detachment of the 7th. Total casualities from the 7th - 2 Officers and 19 Enlisted men, mostly in Elliot's Detachment. For futher details on the battle and photos visit the National Parks Service Washita Battlefield Site.
 

A letter written by Joel Elliott less than 30 days before his death in Indian Territory to Theodore Russell Davis, a significant frontier journalist and artist of that era:
 

 Camp 7th U.S. Cav.

 Near Ft. Dodge Kansas

 October 31st, 1868

My dear Davis,

Yours of Sept. 21st. reached me a short time ago. I fear I can give you but little satisfaction in most of your queries but will answer as much because 'I feel out of humor'  and so am fit for nothing but writing as from any other cause.

A grand winter campaign is being planned. Our column of the seven companies of the 5th cavalry, commanded by Bat. Maj. genl. Sears, and to go south from Fort Lyon. One of ten companies of the 7th cav. to go south from Fort Dodge and from Fort Larned. Genl. Custer is to command our column. He is already here. The regiment is in much better shape than I ever saw it before. Genl. Custer and Col. West seem to agree in letting the "Dead past bury its dead". Both the 5th and 10th have been having a little brush or two with the Indians. These with Forsyth's fight on the Republican, which by the way was about the best thing that has been done for some years in the way of Indian fighting, make all the 'real war'  we have had. I recently read a long article in the "Herald" (from some scribbler who was trying to make some reputation for Genl. Sully out of his expedition to the Canadian in Sept. I have the honor to command the cavalry on that expedition and if it was 'fighting' [underlined twice] then Indian Wars must be a huge joke. (Don't allow this to be public if you please for "Old Sully" is an amiable old fellow and I would not like to hurt his feelings.) I see some of the papers are pittying the "Poor Indian" as usual, while the Peace Commisioners are making heros and saints of them again. I only wish some of the most enthusiastic of their admirers both male and female could have been the recipients of the "Noble Reds" kindnesses instead of the unfortunate settlers on the Saline and Solomon. One of the women brought into Fort Harker was ravished by twenty three of the villians and then shot through the body. Strange to say she bids fair to recover from all this. Ed. Wyncop is out in a letter defending the Indians. If he were not so insignificant I would like to see him "Touched up" in good style. Comstock was one of the first victims to the savages. He and a scout named Grover had visited the camp of "Black Kettle" a Cheyenne Chief then supposed to be friendly and were leaving it when they were followed and shot. Grover feigned death and escaped with his life. Comstock was killed the first fire. From some cause the Indians did not scalp him. He is the only one of our scouts who have been killed to my knowledge. Under present circumstances I think my chances of getting coyote skins are at least no better than they are of being 'eaten by the coyotes'. We are in the field and 'move light', which latter means as uncomfortable as possible.

When I began this letter I had an idea of conveying to you my 'grumblings' [underlined)]  about "Army Life on the Border" but have already written a tolerably long letter and haven't begun my subject yet. So I'l (sic) wait for a more favorable oportunity (sic). Many thanks for those stamps. If you owed me any you have a better memory than I have but I was just as glad to receive them as though you had been my debtor for a thousand."

 Very truly yours,

Major Elliott's body along with the other 18 fallen soldiers was recovered from the battlefield two weeks later on December 11th, 1868. Major Elliott's body was taken to Ft. Arbuckle, Indian Territory for burial. After Ft. Arbuckle was decommissioned in 1870, his body was taken from there and laid to rest in the Officers' Circle at Ft. Gibson National Cemetery, Ft. Gibson, Muskogee Co., Oklahoma in 1872.

In 1875 Fort Elliott, a military post, was established in Wheeler County, Texas.  Fort Elliott was named in honor of Major Joel H. Elliott.

The following letter accompanied the Indiana Distinguished Service Medal presented to Major Joel H. Elliott (posthumously) for Outstanding Meritorious Service.
 

 MILITARY DEPARTMENT OF INDIANA

 2002 South Holt Road

 Indianapolis, Indiana 46241-4839

PERMANENT ORDERS 085-003 29 September 1997

"By direction of the Governor of the State of Indiana, under provisions IC 1971, 10-2-9-1 (b), the Indiana Distinguished Service Medal for unusual, distinguished, or meritorious service is awarded to:

 MAJOR JOEL H. ELLIOTT

 COMPANY M, 7TH INDIANA CAVALRY REGIMENT

 (POSTHUMOUSLY)

"The Indiana Distinguished Service Medal (822) is hereby awarded to Major Joel H. Elliott for distinguishing himself by his heroism and leadership, while as a Captain, Commanding Company M, 7th Indiana Cavalry Regiment. Major Elliott participated in the expedition to Meridien, Mississippi, a retrograde movement to West Point, Mississippi, The Battle at Brice's Crossroads, and Grierson's Raid. The memory of Major Elliott's exemplary leadership, bravery, and loyalty to the colors he was serving, remain with us today as an inspiration and example to which all military personnel may aspire."

"BY THE ORDER OF ROBERT J. MITCHELL, Major General INARNG, the Adjutant General"

The face of the medal reads: "INDIANA - LOYAL IN PEACE OR WAR"

This medal is in the possession of the Wayne County Historical Museum, Richmond, Indiana.