Henry Welton

Henry Welton was a colonel in the United States Army during the Second Mexican War. He commanded Fort Benton, Montana Territory. It was Welton who accepted Theodore Roosevelt's volunteer Unauthorized Regiment into the US Army.

When the British crossed the border from Canada into Montana in 1882, Welton was relieved of overall command in the Territory by Brigadier General George Custer, though he continued to command his regiment of cavalry. Welton initially got along well with Custer, whom he'd known during the War of Secession when both were attached to George McClellan's staff. However, their relationship soured when Welton sided with Roosevelt against Custer and his brother Tom on a question of tactics.

After the defeat of the British force under Charles George Gordon, Welton was forced to watch as Custer's and Roosevelt's heroics eclipsed his own, though Welton had served no less bravely nor ably than either man in the campaign.