| John Babcock | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 7, 1847 |
| Died | April 26, 1909 (aged 62) |
| Place of birth | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Place of death | onboard the SS Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm |
| Allegiance |
 United States |
| Service/branch | U.S. Army |
| Years of service | 1862 - 1909 |
| Rank |
 Brigadier general |
| Unit | 5th Cavalry Regiment |
| Battles/wars |
American Civil War Indian Wars |
John Breckinridge Babcock (February 7, 1843[1] or 1847[2] – April 26, 1909) was a US Army officer who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Indian Wars.
Life and military career[]
Babcock was born in New Orleans, a great-great-grandson of Joshua Babcock.[1] He joined the 37th New York Volunteer Infantry as a sergeant in 1862. After being commissioned a second lieutenant, he fought in several battles that took place in Louisiana, and reached the rank of major of volunteers in the 62nd New York Volunteer Infantry by the end of the war.[1]
He reverted to the rank of first lieutenant after the war and remained in the army, fighting against the Kiowa and the Cheyenne during the Indian Wars. Babcock finished his career with the rank of brigadier general, and died from Bright's disease on board the SS Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm, while traveling from Bremen to New York City.[2]
Medal of Honor citation[]
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, 5th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Spring Creek, Nebr., May 16, 1869. Entered service at: Stonington, Conn. Birth: New Orleans, La. Date of issue: September 18, 1897.
- Citation
While serving with a scouting column, this officer's troop was attacked by a vastly superior force of Indians. Advancing to high ground, he dismounted his men, remaining mounted himself to encourage them, and there fought the Indians until relieved, his horse being wounded.[3]
See also[]
- List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Indian Wars
- List of people from New Orleans
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Civil War officers
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Orbituary at New York Times
- ↑ "United States Army Center of Military History Medal of Honor citations archive". American Medal of Honor recipients for the Indian Wars. United States Army Center of Military History. December 3, 2010. https://history.army.mil/html/moh/indianwars.html. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
External links[]
- "John B. Babcock". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7836742. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
- "John B. Babcock". Military Times. http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=1846. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
The original article can be found at John B. Babcock and the edit history here.