Oscar Derostus Ladley

Oscar Derostus Ladley was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on September 25, 1837.
In early 1861 he enlisted as a Private in Company E of the 16th Ohio Volunteer Infantry
for a period of 90 days. At the end of his enlistment he reenlisted for a three year term
in Company G of the 75th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, being appointed Sergeant.

On November 1, 1862 Ladley was given a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant and was promoted
to 1st Lieutenant on January 29, 1863. He was promoted to Captain of Company E on May 12, 1864.
He was honorably mustered out of the 75th Ohio on January 17, 1865. He had participated in many
battles with the 75th Ohio, and at Gettysburg was one of only two officers in his Company who were
not killed or wounded.

On October 2, 1867 Ladley was given a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 22nd U.S. Infantry.
He joined Company C at Fort Sully, Dakota Territory on December 25, 1867. He served with his
Company on frontier duty at various posts in the Dakota Territory for the next seven years.

From 1874 through 1878 he was with Company C at New Orleans, Madison Barracks, New York
and Fort Wayne, Michigan. In 1878 he was at Fort Mackinaw, Michigan. On June 28, 1878 he was
promoted to 1st Lieutenant and assigned to Company D.

In 1879 Ladley was stationed with Company D at Fort Gibson, Indian Territory (Oklahoma)
when trouble with the Utes caused his Company to be sent to Colorado in anticipation of an
outbreak there. Following the campaign Company D was ordered to Fort Clark, Texas.

During the move to Texas, Ladley was struck down by a resurgence of a fever he had been
suffering since October of 1879, and had to be left at Farmington, New Mexico, where he died
of pneumonia on January 11, 1880.

Oscar D. Ladley was originally buried in the Post Cemetery at Fort Lewis, Colorado.
At some later date his remains were re-interred in the Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery.

Burial:
Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery
Fort Leavenworth
Leavenworth County
Kansas
Plot: Section A, site 1884

Grave monument for Oscar D. Ladley

The inscription reads:

IN
MEMORY OF
OSCAR D. LADLEY
1st LIEUT.
22nd INFANTRY
BORN
SEPT. 25th 1840
DIED AT
FARMINGTON, N. M.
JAN'Y 11th 1880

Photo by Walter Schley
from the
Find A Grave website

Inscription on back of the monument
for Oscar D. Ladley

Inscription reads:

THIS STONE

IS ERECTED BY

THE OFFICERS

OF HIS

REGIMENT

Photo by Walter Schley
from the
Find A Grave website

Top photo of Oscar D. Ladley taken in 1875 as a 2nd Lieutenant of the 22nd Infantry from
Hearth and Knapsack: The Ladley Letters, 1857-1880 edited by Carl M. Becker and Ritchie Thomas
Ohio University Press, Athens, Ohio 1988