Luther Rector Hare

Luther Rector Hare was perhaps the only Cavalry officer able to claim two promotions due to battlefield casualties during the Indian Wars.

During the Sioux Campaign of 1876 Hare of the Seventh Cavalry was promoted to First Lieutenant effective 25 June 1876 filling the vacancy created when Lieut. James Porter was killed at the Little Bighorn.  Almost fifteen years later Hare participated in the Sioux Campaign in Dec. 1890 still a 1st Lieut. in the Seventh, but he was not at the Battle of Wounded Knee having returned to Fort Riley on a surgeon's certificate two weeks before the battle.  He was, however, promoted to Captain on 29 Dec. 1890 filling the vacancy created when Capt. George D. Wallace was killed on the Wounded Knee Creek.

Birth	August 24, 1851 Noblesville Hamilton County Indiana, USA
Death	December 22, 1929 Washington District of Columbia District of Columbia, USA

Second Lieutenant, Company K, 7th US Cavalry, during the 1876 Battle of the Little Big Horn. He survived the battle.

The son of Silas and Octavia Elizabeth Rector Hare, he entered the US Military Academy in 1870 and graduated in 1874, ranking 25 of 41 cadets.  Appointed 2nd Lieutenant on June 17, 1874. During the Little Big Horn, he was assigned to Company K, Benteen's Battalion, and survived the battle.  Appointed 1st Lieutenant on June 25, 1876, and later commanded Company L, 7th Cavalry. He married Augusta Virginia Hancock, niece of General Winfield Scott Hancock, on June 21, 1878; they had three daughters: Camilla, Mary and Irone, but the marriage would end in divorce. 

Promoted to Captain on December 29, 1890. In the 1896 Apache campaign.  
Promoted to Colonel, 1st Texas Cavalry, on June 14, 1898, and sent to Cuba during the Spanish American War.
Appointed Colonel, 33rd US Volunteer Infantry on July 5, 1899, and to the regiment to the Philippines.
Awarded two Silver Star Medals for gallantry in action in San Jacinta, PL, on November 11, 1899, and for gallantry in action in Northern Luzon, PL, December 4, 1899.  
Appointed Brigadier General, US Volunteers, on June 1, 1900.
Retired for disability June 16, 1903, Professor of Military Science, University of Texas 1908-1911, and at Simmons College, 1918-1919.
Died of throat cancer in 1929.

Identical Marker in West Hill Cemetery
Sherman, Grayson County, Texas


contributor unknown

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