Leopold Hohman

Leopold Hohman (or Homan), (1849-1940) was a United States Army soldier who fought in the American Indian Wars.
Early Life
Leopold Hohman was born on May 14, 1849 in Baden County, Germany. At a young age, he immigrated to the United States.
9th Infantry
Hohman enlisted into the United States army at Platte Station, Nebraska, on March 21, 1870. Hohman was assigned as a Private to Company K, of the 9th United States Infantry Regiment. He was Discharged from that organization in 1875.
5th Infantry
Private Hohman Reenlisted on April 14th, 1876, and this time was assigned to Company E, of the 5th United States Infantry Regiment, under the command of Colonel Nelson A. Miles. In the fall of that year, the 5th U.S. Infantry was transferred into Montana Territory, and built Tongue River Cantonment at the confluence of the Tongue River and Yellowstone River. Then in October 1876, Leopold participated in the Battle of Cedar Creek, Montana Territory. On January 8, 1877, Private Hohman fought at the Battle of Wolf Mountain, and in September and October, 1877, fought at the Battle of Bear Paw Mountain. In 1877, the 5th Infantry including Hohman would build Fort Keogh, to replace Cantonment Tongue River, which was about one mile north of Keogh.
Powder River Telegraph Station
On November 1, 1878, the Powder River Telegraph Station, of the Fort Keogh to Fort Meade Telegraph line was established. On December 20, 1878, Leopold assumed command of the outpost. Privates J. Broderick and L. Smith of the 5th United States Infantry Regiment, and three additional soldiers of the 2nd United States Cavalry Regiment were under the command of Hohman at the telegraph repair station. Two skirmishes with Native American warriors would occur near the station, and in one, Hohman would himself be wounded in action. He would command the post until the spring of 1881.
Later Life
He was honorably discharged from the United States Army, on April 15th, 1881. Leopold then moved to California. He signed his name as 'L. Homan' at least twice, first in the 1880's at the Powder River Telegraph Station, and in the 1900's, in a letter written at his home in California, that was mailed to the first postmaster of Powderville, Montana (Powderville was located within one mile of the abandoned Powder River Telegraph Station). Leopold Hohman died on April 4, 1940, in Riverside, California. He was interred in Section 83, Row B, Site 5, in the Los Angeles National Cemetery, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California on April 9th, 1940.
Homan's Rock
While stationed at the Powder River Telegraph Station from 1878 to 1881, Private Leopold Hohman would etch the years he was present, his name, rank, Company, and Regiment into a sandstone boulder on a bluff overlooking the Telegraph repair station, on the east side of the Powder River near present day Powderville, Montana. The boulder that he chose was part of a formation of boulders clustered on top of the hill that later became known as Soldiers mount, sitting propped up onto another rock, with a wide flat face looking West towards the river. The inscription:

(1878-1881, Leopold Hohman, Operator, Company E, 5th United States Infantry Regiment.)
For some reason, Leopold inscribed his name as 'L. Homan'. By not writing his first name, the full name of the soldier who left his name overlooking the Powder River was not known for over 115 years.
See Also
* Homan's Rock
* 5th United States Infantry Regiment
* 9th United States Infantry Regiment
* Battle of Cedar Creek
* Battle of Wolf Mountain
* Battle of Bear Paw Mountain
* Skirmish at the Powder River Telegraph Station

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