Indian War Campaigns
Medal of Honor Recipients from Wisconsin during the Indian Wars
This page contains the names of all the Medal of Honor Recipients from Wisconsin during the Indian War Campaigns that I have found. Please note that some of these Recipients are not officially accredited to Wisconsin. I have listed Recipients who were born in Wisconsin or lived in Wisconsin when they entered service; the U.S. Military may use different criteria.
Read here of the deeds of these brave heroes and do not forget them!
The names which are preceded by an asterisk denote posthumous awards.
This table lists the recipients by date, they are listed alphabetically below.
First Lieutenant Albee, George E.
28 October 1869
Born Lisbon, New Hampshire, Entered Service at Owatonna, Minnesota
41ST U.S. Infantry Regiment
Awarded for action at Brazos River, Texas
Rank and Organization: First Lieutenant, 41ST U.S. Infantry Regiment.
Place and Date: At Brazos River, Texas, 28 October 1869.
Entered Service At: Owatonna, Minnesota.
Birth: 27 January 1845, Lisbon, New Hampshire.
Date of Issue: 18 January 1894.
Citation: “Attacked with 2 men a force of 11 Indians, drove them from the hills, and reconnoitered the country beyond.” Citation from U.S. Army Center of Military History.
Death: 24 March 1918, Laurel, Maryland, interred at Arlington.
He grew up in Wisconsin. He enlisted 25 June 1862 in Company G, First Regiment U.S. Sharpshooters (Berdan’s Sharpshooters), from Madison, WI. He was wounded at 2nd Bull Run and was discharged 20 October 1862. He went home, convalesced, and enlisted in Wisconsin’s 3D Battery, Light Artillery, 23 December 1863. He was discharged from there in order to accept a commission in Company F, 36TH Wisconsin Infantry, promoted to 2LT in Company F on 11 Feb. 1864. He was taken prisoner at the 2nd Battle of Ream’s Station on 25 August 1864. He was on detached service at David’s Island, New York, from 12 December 1864 to 22 May 1865. He mustered out as a 1LT in Company F on 12 July 1865 and joined the Regular Army. He lived in Baraboo, Wisconsin, for a while before moving to New Haven, Connecticut.
Bugler Windus, Claron A.
12 July 1870
Born Janesville, Wisconsin
Company L, 6TH U.S. Cavalry Regiment
Awarded for action at Wichita River, Texas
Rank and organization: Bugler, Company L, 6TH U.S. Cavalry Regiment.
Place and date: At Wichita River, Texas, 12 July 1870.
Entered service at: ——.
Birth: 19 January 1850, Janesville, Wisconsin.
Date of issue: 25 August 1870.
Citation: “Gallantry in action.” Citation from U.S. Army Center of Military History.
Death: 18 October 1927, Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
Sergeant Hill, Frank E.
8 September 1872
Born Mayfield, Wisconsin
Company E, 5TH U.S. Cavalry Regiment
Awarded for action at Date Creek, Arizona
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company E, 5TH U.S. Cavalry Regiment.
Place and date: At Date Creek, Arizona, 8 September 1872.
Entered service at: ——.
Birth: ca. 1850, Mayfield, Wisconsin.
Date of issue: 12 August 1875.
Citation: “Secured the person of a hostile Apache Chief, although while holding the chief he was severely wounded in the back by another Indian.” Citation from U.S. Army Center of Military History.
Death: 29 March 1906, Manhattan, Nevada.
Private Robbins, Marcus M.
23 April 1875
Born Elba, Wisconsin
Company H, 6TH U.S. Cavalry Regiment
Awarded for action at Sappa Creek, Kansas
Rank and organization: Private, Company H, 6TH U.S. Cavalry Regiment.
Place and date: At Sappa Creek, Kansas, 23 April 1875.
Entered service at: ——.
Birth: 25 July 1851, Elba, Wisconsin.
Date of issue: 16 November 1876.
Citation: “With 5 other men he waded in mud and water up the creek to a position directly behind an entrenched Cheyenne position, who were using natural bank pits to good advantage against the main column. This surprise attack from the enemy rear broke their resistance.” Citation from U.S. Army Center of Military History.
Death: 21 June 1924, Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
Private Goldin, Theodore W.
26 June 1876
Born Avon, Rock County, Wisconsin; Entered service at Chicago, Illinois
Troop G, 7TH U.S. Cavalry Regiment
Awarded for action at Little Big Horn, Montana
Rank and organization: Private, Troop G, 7TH U.S. Cavalry Regiment.
Place and date: At Little Big Horn, Montana, 26 June 1876.
Entered service at: Chicago, Illinois.
Birth: 25 July 1858, Avon, Rock County, Wisconsin.
Date of issue: 21 December 1895.
Citation: “One of a party of volunteers who, under a heavy fire from the Indians, went for and brought water to the wounded.” Citation from U.S. Army Center of Military History.
Death: 15 February 1935, Veteran’s Home at Waupaca, Wisconsin.
PVT Goldin was one of 24 Troopers of the 7TH Cavalry to be bestowed with the Medal of Honor from the Battle of the Little Big Horn on 25 Jun. 1876, often called “Custer’s Last Stand.” Five men received the Medal for direct combat actions that day. PVT Goldin was one of 19 men cited for heroism in obtaining critical water for the wounded. Four brave Troopers exposed themselves to the enemy for four hours from a position ahead of the line to provide protective fire while PVT Goldin and fourteen of his comrades slipped out of the right wing of CPT Benteen’s line to cross 80-yards of fire-swept ground to reach a deep ravine and access to the river. Had not the critical supply of water been obtained, many more of the wounded would have died.
He was discharged from the Army 13 Nov. 1877 because he had lied about his age to enlist, which is why his year of birth is often listed as 1855. He later joined the WNG and achieved the rank of COL. After leaving the Army he became a lawyer and enjoyed a successful practice. He also dabbled in local and WI politics. He died at King, WI, 15 Feb. 1935.
Private Cable, Joseph A.
October 1876 to January 1877
Born Cape Girardeau, Missouri; Entered service at Wisconsin
Company I, 5TH U.S. Infantry Regiment
Awarded for action at Cedar Creek, etc., Montana
Rank and organization: Private, Company I, 5TH U.S. Infantry Regiment.
Place and date: At Cedar Creek, etc., Montana, October 1876 to January 1877.
Entered service at: Madison, Wisconsin.
Birth. 1 January 1848, Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
Date of Issue: 27 April 1877.
Citation: “Gallantry in action.” Citation from U.S. Army Center of Military History.
Death: 15 October 1877.
PVT Cable died at the Battle of Bear Paw Mountain, Montana, on 15 October 1877.
Farrier Nolan, Richard J.
30 December 1890
Born Ireland
Company I, 7TH U.S. Cavalry Regiment
Awarded for action at White Clay Creek, South Dakota
Rank and organization: Farrier, Company I, 7TH U.S. Cavalry Regiment.
Place and date: At White Clay Creek, South Dakota, 30 December 1890.
Entered service at:——.
Birth: Ireland.
Date of issue: 1 April 1891.
Citation: “Bravery.” Citation from U.S. Army Center of Military History.