10 Facts About Samuel Whitside

Samuel M Whitside was a United States Cavalry officer who served from 1858 to 1902.

Samuel Whitside commanded at every level from company to department for 32 of his 43 years in service, including Army posts such a Camp Huachuca, Jefferson Barracks, and Fort Sam Houston, the Departments of Eastern Cuba and Santiago and Puerto Principe, Cuba, commanded a provisional cavalry brigade, a squadron in the 7th Cavalry Regiment, and a troop and platoon in the 6th Cavalry Regiment.

Samuel Whitside grew up in that area attending Normal School, and later moved to New York where he attended Careyville Academy.

Samuel Whitside enlisted into the General Mounted Service in 1858 and served for three years at Carlisle Barracks, PA where he was promoted to the rank of Corporal.

Corporal Samuel Whitside was assigned on July 27,1861, to the 3rd Cavalry to fill a vacant noncommissioned officer position, and on August 1, he was promoted to sergeant major of the regiment.

Samuel Whitside accepted his appointment as a second lieutenant in the 6th US Cavalry on November 4,1861, and assumed the duties of a junior officer in Company K His commander was Captain Charles R Lowell.

Samuel Whitside next served as an aide-de-camp on the staff of Major General Nathaniel Banks, and participated in the Siege of Port Hudson in Louisiana in 1863.

Samuel Whitside later received brevet promotions to captain and major for faithful and meritorious service.

Samuel Whitside served for the next 20 years with the 6th Cavalry commanding B Company at various posts throughout the West.

Samuel Whitside was the major of the 7th Cavalry at the time of the Wounded Knee Massacre in December 1890.