Major Joel Elliott (1840-1868), Washita Battlefield National Historic Site, 2016.

Elliott began his military career at the age of 21 when he enlisted as a private with the Indiana Cavalry. In August 1867, with Lt. Col. Custer's court-martial and subsequent suspension, Elliott assumed command of the 7th US Cavalry in his absence. However, General Sheridan put Lt. Col. Custer back in command of the 7th Cavalry specifically for the winter campaign of 1868. It was events during this campaign that led to Elliot's death and permanent place in the 7th US Cavalry's history. On November 27, 1868 as the fighting along the Washita raged, Elliott did not notify Custer of his plan but called for volunteers to follow him downstream and chase the Indians escaping from the village. When Custer prepared to depart, Elliott's detachment of seventeen men could not be found. Two weeks later General Sheridan and Lt. Col. Custer discovered the mutilated bodies of Major Elliott and his men two miles downstream from the battlefield. Captain Benteen, Elliott's friend and former Civil War commander, accused Custer of abandoning the missing men. This controvery created dissension among the officers of the 7th US Cavalry and continued long after Custer's death.