John Burri enlisted in the 7th U.S. Cavalry on March 13, 1871, at St Louis, Missouri. He was detailed to Company G under Lieutenant McIntosh, where he served 5 years. Upon the expiration of this term he re-enlisted in the same regiment but was assigned to Company I under Captain Henry J. Nowlan, serving another 5 years.
He came to Dakota with Custer in 1873. In that same year, he was stationed along the Union Pacific Railroad in Nebraska and Wyoming and often told of the many skirmishes with the Indians there. He was again with Custer in 1874 on the expedition into the Black Hills.
Elizabeth Custer included the following in her wonderful book, Boots and Saddles, referring to 7th Cavalry musician, John Burri:
"There was a Swiss soldier in our regiment who had contrived to bring his zither with him. My husband would lie on the bearskin rug in front of the fire and listen with delight as long as he ventured to tax the man. He played the native Tyrolese airs, which seemed to have caught in them the sound of the Alpine horn, the melody of the cascade, and the echo of the mountain passes. The general often regretted that he had not had the opportunity to learn music. It seemed to me that it was a great solace and diversion to officers if they knew some musical instrument well enough to enjoy practice. They certainly gave great pleasure to those around them."
The following article appeared in the Sioux City Journal of November 21, 1926, a little more than 50 years after the Little Big Horn battle.
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Sioux City Journal; November 21, 1926
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There are a couple things to note about the article above.
First, the peak mentioned that Custer climbed during the 1874 Black Hills Expedition, was Harney Peak. It was since been renamed Black Elk Peak, but was never known as Custer Peak. There is indeed a Custer Peak in the Black Hills, but it is further north. Custer Peak is one of the more prominent peaks in the north central area of South Dakota's Black Hills. Located about 7 miles south of the Deadwood-Lead area.
The article also mentioned that "at the time that Custer's band was wiped out, Burri was in the east." Part of that statement is true. Burri was not present at the Little Big Horn battle. He was in the east visiting his sister who had been ill. But Custer's band was not "wiped out." The band members did accompany the column on the campaign, but were left behind at the Powder River Depot when the 7th headed to the Little Big Horn. Instead of the musicians, Custer needed their horses.
Burri married the widow of fellow 7th Cavalryman Henry Haack, on December 8, 1881, at Fort Totten. After retirement from the Army at Fort Meade in 1885, Burri located on a ranch west of Bear Butte where he resided until he moved to Whitewood in 1899 where he made his home until his death.
Among his civil honors may be cited his yearly presence in the Museum building during the “Days of ‘76” celebration in Deadwood each year since its establishment where he helped to entertain visitors to the Black Hills with sketches of early frontier life, both military and civil.
Burri died on December 1, 1927, in Whitewood, South Dakota. He is buried in the Whitewood Cemetery.
His funeral was a full military funeral by a detachment from Fort Meade. The funeral services were conducted at the Presbyterian Church in Whitewood by Chaplain Albert K. Mathews, U.S. Army. At the funeral, a march composed by Burri, “The Black Hills March”, was played by the 4th Cavalry band. This march was also played by Burri himself at the 50th anniversary of the Little Big Horn fight. “Taps” was sounded by Corporal Bugler Swift, 4th Cavalry, with the bugle so often used by Burri himself. As he was also a charter member of the Black Hills Society of Pioneers, they assisted at the funeral services.
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John Burri's grave at Whitewood Cemetery in Whitewood, SD.
Notice the misspelling of his last name on his headstone.
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