From Nelson Miles at Tx Handbook
quote:
In 1874 he was ordered to lead an expedition against the Indians of the Texas Panhandle. With one battalion and four companies of the Fifth Infantry, two battalions of the Sixth Cavalry, a detachment of artillery, and a company of Delaware Indians
the troopers in the fight were 6th cavalry
from Miles'
Personal Recollections page 173quote:
On the night of the 10th instant, a party consisting of Sergeant Z.T. Woodall, Co. I, Privates, Peter Rath, Co. A, John Harrington, Co. H and George W. Smith, Co. M, 6th Cavalry, and scouts Amos Chapman and William Dixon were sent as bearers of Despatches(sic).....
I thought more than likely they were mounted infantry
2 scouts, 1 Sergeant and 3 privates - no corporals
here's a link to
Medal of Honor infoincludes a little bio for each recipient - including Dixon and Chapman
quote:
WOODALL, ZACHARIAH
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company I, 6th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Wichita River, Tex., 12 September 1874. Entered service at: ------. Birth: Alexandria, Va. Date of issue: 7 November 1874. Citation: While in command of S men and carrying dispatches, was attacked by 125 Indians, whorr, he with his command fought throughout the day, he being severely wounded.
ROTH, PETER
Rank and organization: Private, Company A, 6th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Wichita River, Tex., 12 September 1874. Entered service at:------. Birth: Germany. Date of issue: 4 November 1874. Citation: While carrying dispatches was attacked by 125 hostile Indians, whom he and his comrades fought throughout the day.
HARRINGTON, JOHN
Rank and organization: Private, Company H, 6th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Wichita River, Tex., 12 September 1874. Entered service at:------. Birth: Detroit, Mich. Date of issue: 4 November 1874. Citation: While carrying dispatches was attacked hy 125 hostile Indians, whom he and his comrades fought throughout the day. He was severely wounded in the hip and unable to move. He continued to fight, defending an exposed dying man.
*SMITH, GEORGE W.
Rank and organization: Private, Company M, 6th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Wichita River, Tex., 12 September 1874. Entered service at: ------. Birth: Greenfield, N.Y. Date of issue: 4 November 1874. Citation: While carrying dispatches was attacked by 125 hostile Indians, whom he and his comrades fought throughout the day. Pvt. Smith was mortally wounded during the engagement and died early the next day.
CHAPMAN, AMOS
Rank: Scout (Civilian). Born: 15 May 1839, Kalamazoo, Mich. Organization: 6th U.S. Cavalry. Place: Wa****a River, Texas. Date: 12 September 1874. Issue date: 4 November 1874. Citation: Gallantry in action.
(In 1916, the general review of all Medals of Honor deemed 900 unwarranted. This recipient was one of them. In June 1989, the U.S. Army Board of Correction of Records restored the medal to this recipient.)
DIXON, WILLIAM
Rank: Scout. Born: 25 October 1850, Ohio County, West Virginia. War: Indian Campaigns. Organization: 6th U.S. Cavalry. Place: Wichita River, Texas. Action date: 12 September 1874. Issue date: 4 November 1874. Citation: Gallantry in action.
(In 1916, the general review of all Medals of Honor deemed 900 unwarranted. This recipient was one of them. In June 1989, the U.S. Army Board of Correction of Records restored the medal to this recipient.)
interesting, above in Miles book and other places, I've seen it as Peter Rath, but the Army has him as Roth
[This message has been edited by TheSheik (edited 8/12/2010 12:58p).]