Indian Wars Medal of Honor Recipient, Spanish-American War General. He joined the United States Regular Army after the outbreak of the Civil War, serving as an enlisted man in the 6th United States Regular Cavalry from November 1861 to July 1862. He was then commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the regiment; a rank he would serve at until he end of the war. He participated in the numerous cavalry actions partaken by his unit, and would briefly command it during the Gettysburg Campaign. He also spent a good portion of his service as an aide-de-camp to Union General Philip Sheridan. He received Regular Army brevets up to Lieutenant Colonel for his outstanding services, as well as a brevet of Colonel, US Volunteers. After the end of the conflict he was promoted to Captain, US Regular Army and assigned to recruit African-American soldiers for two new Cavalry units that would become the famed 9th and 10th United States Cavalry (and would be known as "Buffalo Soldiers"). Given command of Company H, 10th United States Cavalry when recruitment was complete, he aw continuous service on the Western frontier from 1866 to 1870. He would perform his most celebrated act in September 1868, when he led a relief party that saved 50 besieged scouts of General George Forsyth in Kansas. His bravery there would win him the CMOH 30 years later. He was promoted up to Colonel during his service, and would command the Army posts of Fort Robinson in Nebraska, Fort Myer in Virginia and Fort Sam Houston in Texas. Upon the outbreak of the Spanish-American War he was made a Brigadier General, US Volunteers, and commanded first the 1st Division of the 3rd Corps, then the 3rd Division of the 4th Corps, and from 1898 to 1899 he was the Military Governor of the Puerto Principe province. Mustered out of Volunteer service in June 1899, he reverted back to his Regular rank of Colonel, but a few months, on October 18, 1899, he was advanced to Brigadier General. The next day he retired from the Army at his own request, with over 30 years service. His Medal of Honor citation reads "Was gallant and meritorious throughout the campaigns, especially in the combat of October 15 and in the forced march on September 23, 24 and 25 to the relief of Forsyth's Scouts, who were known to be in danger of annihilation by largely superior forces of Indians". His Medal was issued on April 8, 1898.
Indian Wars Medal of Honor Recipient, Spanish-American War General. He joined the United States Regular Army after the outbreak of the Civil War, serving as an enlisted man in the 6th United States Regular Cavalry from November 1861 to July 1862. He was then commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the regiment; a rank he would serve at until he end of the war. He participated in the numerous cavalry actions partaken by his unit, and would briefly command it during the Gettysburg Campaign. He also spent a good portion of his service as an aide-de-camp to Union General Philip Sheridan. He received Regular Army brevets up to Lieutenant Colonel for his outstanding services, as well as a brevet of Colonel, US Volunteers. After the end of the conflict he was promoted to Captain, US Regular Army and assigned to recruit African-American soldiers for two new Cavalry units that would become the famed 9th and 10th United States Cavalry (and would be known as "Buffalo Soldiers"). Given command of Company H, 10th United States Cavalry when recruitment was complete, he aw continuous service on the Western frontier from 1866 to 1870. He would perform his most celebrated act in September 1868, when he led a relief party that saved 50 besieged scouts of General George Forsyth in Kansas. His bravery there would win him the CMOH 30 years later. He was promoted up to Colonel during his service, and would command the Army posts of Fort Robinson in Nebraska, Fort Myer in Virginia and Fort Sam Houston in Texas. Upon the outbreak of the Spanish-American War he was made a Brigadier General, US Volunteers, and commanded first the 1st Division of the 3rd Corps, then the 3rd Division of the 4th Corps, and from 1898 to 1899 he was the Military Governor of the Puerto Principe province. Mustered out of Volunteer service in June 1899, he reverted back to his Regular rank of Colonel, but a few months, on October 18, 1899, he was advanced to Brigadier General. The next day he retired from the Army at his own request, with over 30 years service. His Medal of Honor citation reads "Was gallant and meritorious throughout the campaigns, especially in the combat of October 15 and in the forced march on September 23, 24 and 25 to the relief of Forsyth's Scouts, who were known to be in danger of annihilation by largely superior forces of Indians". His Medal was issued on April 8, 1898.
Bio by: RPD2
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