Well, it's over 2 years later and I hope you check back on this now and then.

I would imagine there are many families who have an ancester who helped bury the dead at Little Big Horn.

My ancestor was Solomon Sweaney, b. 3 Oct 1847 in Indiana. The legend I've grown up with was that Solomon was part of the main force that was on its way to support Custer. Part of the legend says that Custer and his small group of men had been drinking enough to decide they could lick those Indians without waiting for the rest of the Army. We know that was unwise!

After the main contingent arrived on June 26th, Solomon's superior told him to take a few men and go out onto the battlefield and find and bring back Custer. Solomon did so and found that Custer alone had not been scalped as had "all the rest" (?)

I have been trying to pin this down to see if it was even possible given what I know of Solomon. This is what I have discovered:

Solomon appears to have enlisted in the Union army when 17 (Jan 1865) and was mustered out after the war. He appears to have gone back to family, ending up moving to Riley Co., Kansas to live, along with sisters Nancy and Emily, with brother Joshua's family. Youngest sibling LaFayette lived with neighbor Geo. Stanfield's family as a farm worker. Solomon appears to have left Kansas and gone to Missouri where he met and married Emma Stephens (Stevens) 15 Apr 1877. Possibility is that he and Emma had two children: Willy b. 1878, at least before June 1; Katy b. July 1879. If this is true could he have had time to be in Little Big Horn on June 26, 1878, the day after the slaughter? Looks like Emma was alone when the boy was born (family nearby?) and then Soloman got back to Missouri by Nov 1878 to conceive Katy? All possible.

Paperwork for Solomon's civil war pension at his death says: See Indian Wars. Still looking for where I can find "Indian Wars" personal/personnel info.

Mainly what I'm getting at is that since there were so many needing burial...there were probably several groups doing that chore.Hey, your John/Jack could so easily have been one of the men my Solomon gathered up to go look.