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- From the obituary notice from the 1896 Annual Reunion of the Association of Graduates, US Military Academy, West Point, New York, pages 9-13. Only son of George Benjamin Backus of Mt. Carmel, Ill and Caroline F. Ball. At one point they lived in Pikes Peak, Colorado. George was appointed to West Point from Colorado, listing his legal residence as Black Hawk, Gilpin County, Colorado. He graduated (#22 out of 43) in 1875 He was assigned to Fort Colville and joined his company on October 8, 1875. He remained there until April 15, 1878 when he led a company in the campaign against "the hostile Bannock and Piute Indians." He remained in command of his company until August 6, 1878 when Captain Harris rejoined and took command. at Mundy's Ferry, Snake River, Idaho. Lt Backus remained with the company until the close of the campaign, when the company was ordered to Fort Walla Walla. He was described as "a good, zealous and efficient company officer." From there he was sent to Fort Colville. "In 1879 he commence to be very seriously affected with the disease which later caused him so much trouble and from which he never recovered, neuralgia in the head, accompanied by intense pain and affection of the eyes; he was on sick leave on Surgeon's certificate from January 3 to October 3, 1879. He was promoted to First Lt. in January 1880 and joined his new company at Fort Klamath, Oregon, April 3, 1880 until 1882, when they went back to Fort Walla Walla. He was a member of the reconnoitering expedition during the summer of 1882, exploring for a route from Fort Colville to Puget Sound. He was specially applied for by the commander, Lt. Pierce. In 1883 he commanded a troop near Foster Creek, Washington, in anticipation of hostilities with Chief Moses. He was assigned to Walla Walla in 1884 and, commanding Troup L, was assigned to operate against hostile Sioux. In November 1884, he was relieved from command of the troop ... resume command in 1885 until 1887; for the greater part of the time, he was actively employed on detached service, intercepting marauding bands of Indians, scouting, etc.... absent without leave for two months; reported in Minnesota; arrested and court martialed and reduced in rank.... his friends believe that this offense was due, in part, at least, to mental weakness, the result of sickness and pain. He was released from arrest and resumed command of his troop in May 1888. sent to Montana... relieved from duty for abandonment of the post; rejoined his troop; The returned to Fort Custer in 1891. On February 16, he was relieved from command of Troop D, being sick in quarters, "sciatica", contracted in the line of duty until March 23, when he resumed command. He was reported incapacitated by the surgeon and applied to retire, but continued in his duties. excerpts: "from sickness and other causes, he was an intense sufferer during the greater part of his military career." He was sick in his quarters and absent without leave; he was "under military control and orders at Governor's Island, NY in 1892." Sick in quarters... absent with leave for six months on surgeon's certificate of disability" Died in City Hospital, Dallas Texas, June 14, 1895, gangrenous pneumonia. Interred at San Antonio Texas June 16, 1895. . In a letter to Mrs. Ide at Colville in 1928, John A McLain wrote: "I remember you, as the young wife of the best army officer I ever knew during my long service in the army. "Lt Backus was a troop commander (their first?) at Fort Colville after his graduation from the Academy. He had one son, George Stitzel Backus. In a letter to his son, Lt. J. F. Reynolds Landis wrote "It is a great pleasure to me to be the means of forwarding this book (Reunion of the USMA Class of '75, June 1895) to the son of a man whose friendship I enjoyed for more than twenty years, and whose many attractive qualities of mind and disposition have often helped to make life brighter in garrison and in camp."
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