Edinburgh, Scotland

Forbes was born on May 28, 1849 in Rugby, England of Scottish parents. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on January 20, 1872. At the Battle of the Little Bighorn he was with Company E and fell amongst the 210 soldiers and civilians under the Custer Battalion.

Where ever he fell on that battlefield, Pvt. Forbes must have been one heck of a sight and a fight to the Indians because he stood 6'0" tall. He is listed on the 7th Cavalry Monument as J.S. Hiley.

A memorial plaque for Forbes is placed in St. Johns Episcopal Church, West End, Edinburgh within a stones throw of the beautiful gardens below the Edinburgh Castle. The memorial reads, "In Memory of John Stuart Forbes, 7th Regt., United States Cavalry, Born 28 May 1849. Killed in Action 25 June 1876."

Pvt. John Stuart Forbes has kept me busy somewhat this past year of 2003. I had inquires from descendants of Forbes asking for any information I might be able to share with them. I also met for the first time in June 2003, George Stuart from near Inverness, Scotland who is also of the Forbes family. George became a member of the Friends.

A web viewer from New Zealand, Adele Pentony-Graham surprised me when she told me she had photos of the Forbes memorial provided to her by her friend Jane Kelly. We've posted the photos below as provided by Jane Kelly. I want to thank her and Adele for making these available for all to see -- published for the first time.

 

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