He was attached to Company G, commanded by 1st. Lt. Donald McIntosh. This Company was apart of Maj. Reno's column that made the initial attack on the village and were driven into the woods by the superior force of the Indians.

In the confusion of the attack while in the woods, Reno's order to mount and cross back to the other side of the Little Big Horn river was not heard by all members of Company G. Seventeen men were left behind in the woods as the rest tried to gain the other side of the river. Lt. McIntosh tried to rally his men and when he got to the river his horse was killed by an arrow to it's head. An unnamed trooper gave his horse to McIntosh, but the Lt. was killed trying to cross the river.

According to the book Men With Custer; by Kenneth Hammer, there was a Benjamin J. Wells at the battle (notice the middle initial). He was born in 1843 in Sangamon, Illinois and was assigned to Company G, part of Reno's battalion.

NOTE: a researcher from this family believes he was born 25 Oct 1743 Bath County, Kentucky.

His rank was farrier (i.e. blacksmith). His civilian occupation was farmer. He enlisted on 28 Nov 1866 in company G. Deserted 28 Nov 1867. Surrendered on 30 Nov 1867. Enlisted again 05 Dec 1871, at age 28, in Louisville, Ky. Had blue eyes, fair hair, fair complexion, and was 5 ft 6 inches tall. During the Valley Fight, he was killed when his horse bolted into the hostile Indians.

His widow, Sarah, received a pension of $8 per month (plus $2 per month for son Charles W. Wells) until she remarried to Henry C.. Weihe on 14 Sep 1884.

According to the book, a nephew of B.W resided on Rt 2, Anacortes, WA and was named A.V. Ginnett, Sr. (it is not clear if he is still there or not).

Quote from the book:

"Benj. Wells body was found in the river due north or northwest of where McIntosh lay. He lay in the water on his face, with his arms spread out, and no Indians had found him, as his clothes were still on his body." (Walter Camp interview with James Boyle, 05 Feb 1813, in Envelope 129, Camp Field Notes, Lilly Library, Indiana University)

Provided by Brian Brown

It is believed that Benjamin Wells was a brother of Harrison Wells b: 1858 m: Sarah Jane Islip. There appears to have been no Benjamin Wells let alone a Benjamin F. Wells born in Illinois in the 1850 census. However the following three possibilities do appear:
Wilkes Barre, Luzaren County, Pennsylvania - Dwelling # 182 - "Wells Inn":

• Benjamin F. Wells 35 b: NY Innkeeper
• Jane Wells 30 b: NY
• Harriet L. Wells 11 b: NJ
• Susan F. Wells 09 b: NJ
• Mary A. Wells 07 b: PA
• Benjamin F. Wells 05 b: PA
• Sarah E. Wells 03 b: PA
• George T. Wells 01 b: PA

Ritchie Co., Virginia Dwelling #583:

• Benjamin Wells 33 b: VA Miller
• Louisa Wells 32 b: VA
• Benjamin F. Wells 05 b: VA
• Eliza J. Wells 03 b: VA
• Elizabeth Wells 01 b: VA
• Levi Wells 21 b: VA

• Benjamin Wells 49 b: VA Farmer
• Lucy Wells 39 b: KY
• Benjamin Wells 07 b: KY
• Morris H. Wells 02 b: KY

Siblings of Benjamin are believed by some researchers of the family to have been:

1. Joseph Allen Wells b: 25 Jan 1833 Bath Co., KY
2. Susan Wells b: 25 Oct 1835 Bath Co., KY
3. Lovina/Lavina Wells b: 17 Jul 1845 Bath Co., KY
4. Squire Wells b: 24 Feb 1848 Sagamon Co., IL
5. Julia Ann Wells b: 24 Jul 1851 Sagamon Co., IL
6. Harrison "Harry" Wells b: 09 Sep 1854 Sagamon Co., IL
7. Alexander Wells b: 1856 Bath Co., KY
8. John Wells b: 1858 Bath Co., KY
9. William Wells (unconfirmed

The famil as shown here does not appear to be in the 1850 census. It does not any of the ones shown above.

Question: Who was Benjamin F. Wells? Where was he REALLY born? Who were his parents? And, what is his ancestry?

If you have any answers regarding this family, please e-mail: