20 Facts About Charles DeRudio

Charles DeRudio was the son of Count and Countess Aquila di Rudio.

Charles DeRudio was shipwrecked off Spain in an aborted attempt to sail to America.

Charles DeRudio became a private in the 79th New York Infantry Regiment, serving about two months with them at the Siege of Petersburg, Virginia, between August 25 and October 17,1864.

Charles DeRudio received appointment to the 7th Cavalry Regiment on July 14,1869, as a 37-year-old 2nd lieutenant.

Benteen nicknamed Charles DeRudio "Count No Account" because of his boastful story-telling and haughty manner.

Charles DeRudio did not absent himself from his duty station for trivial reasons.

Charles DeRudio did not shirk duty assignments and, above all else, he patently knew what he was doing at the head of the column of enlisted men.

Company A's commander, Captain Myles Moylan, apparently did not get along with Charles DeRudio, who acted as Benteen's adjutant during the campaign.

On June 25,1876, Charles DeRudio was with Company A and crossed the Little Bighorn River as part of Major Marcus Reno's battalion.

Charles DeRudio's company dismounted and fought in skirmish line against the Hunkpapa and Oglala warriors who rushed to defend their village from Reno's attack.

Under pressure from growing numbers of warriors, Reno ordered a retreat back across the river, where Charles DeRudio lost his horse and was left behind in the timber on the western bank.

Years later, in an interview with Walter Mason Camp, Charles DeRudio claimed that he had had the only saber at the Little Bighorn.

Charles DeRudio had been scolded by Custer for accepting the present, and, perhaps as a matter of spite, had not surrendered his issued saber when the others had been packed up at the Powder River Depot.

Charles DeRudio commanded a re-constituted Company E during the Nez Perce War of 1877, assigned to reinforce Lt.

Charles DeRudio continued service with the 7th Cavalry, was promoted to captain on December 17,1882, while stationed at Fort Meade, Dakota Territory.

Charles DeRudio later served at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and at Fort Bayard, New Mexico.

Charles DeRudio retired on August 26,1896, having reached the mandatory retirement age of 64, at San Diego, California.

Charles DeRudio was a Companion of the California Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States.

Charles DeRudio died in 1910 in Pasadena, California, of bronchial catarrh and acute enteritis.

Charles DeRudio's remains were cremated and interred in San Francisco National Cemetery.