"An old English dragoon"

• William Moodie was enlisted on 15 December 1874 in New York City by Lt. Thomas Gregg and described as having grey eyes, brown hair, a florid complexion, was 5′ 6 1/2″ tall, previously employed as a coachman.
• He was sent to the St. Louis Depot and transferred to the 7th Cavalry on 29 January 1875. Moodie was assigned to Company A, which he joined at Lexington, Alabama, on 6 February 1875, which was on Reconstruction duty in the South.
• It is widely reputed that he was shot in the forehead at point-blank range (while lying wounded!) and scalped with a blunt knife by a young Black Elk in the retreat from the valley on the first day of the battle.
• Although Moodie hailed from Edinburgh, Scotland, Samuel Alcott, a sergeant in Company A, described him as “an old English dragoon”!
• Listed as W.M. MOODIE on the battle monument.
• Final Statement of Private William Moodie signed by Captain Myles Moylan, Commanding Company A, at Fort Abraham Lincoln on 7 October 1876.
• DUE SOLDIER
• For clothing not drawn in kind … $21.30
• For deposits with the USA Paymaster May 15, 1872 … $7.00
• Proceeds of sale of effects [September 1, 1877] … $17.70
•  DUE UNITED STATES
• For tobacco … $1.71