Indian Wars Medal of Honor Recipient. He served in the United States Army during the Wars with the Plains Indians as a Sergeant in Company C, 6th United States Cavalry. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery in action on July 12, 1870 at the Battle of the Little Wichita River, Texas, with his citation for the award reading simply "Gallantry in action." In the action he was part of a force of 57 men from the 6th Cavalry that went in pursuit of 250-strong group of Kiowa Indians led by Chief Kicking Bird. After tracking the Kiowas for five days, the cavalry force met them on the Wichita River in Archer County, Texas. After a short initial fight, the cavalrymen found that they were outnumbered and outgunned, and fought a fierce defensive battle that left 3 United States soldiers and fifteen Kiowas dead. After the Kiowas broke off the engagement in the early evening, the soldiers retreated, eventually making it back to their home base of Fort Richardson near Jacksboro, Texas. Thirteen troopers were awarded the CMOH on August 25, 1870, for their performance and bravery during the battle, Sergeant Eldridge being one of them. During the Civil War he served as a Private in Company A, 24th Michigan Volunteer Infantry, a regiment that was part of the Army of the Potomac's famous "Iron Brigade".
Indian Wars Medal of Honor Recipient. He served in the United States Army during the Wars with the Plains Indians as a Sergeant in Company C, 6th United States Cavalry. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery in action on July 12, 1870 at the Battle of the Little Wichita River, Texas, with his citation for the award reading simply "Gallantry in action." In the action he was part of a force of 57 men from the 6th Cavalry that went in pursuit of 250-strong group of Kiowa Indians led by Chief Kicking Bird. After tracking the Kiowas for five days, the cavalry force met them on the Wichita River in Archer County, Texas. After a short initial fight, the cavalrymen found that they were outnumbered and outgunned, and fought a fierce defensive battle that left 3 United States soldiers and fifteen Kiowas dead. After the Kiowas broke off the engagement in the early evening, the soldiers retreated, eventually making it back to their home base of Fort Richardson near Jacksboro, Texas. Thirteen troopers were awarded the CMOH on August 25, 1870, for their performance and bravery during the battle, Sergeant Eldridge being one of them. During the Civil War he served as a Private in Company A, 24th Michigan Volunteer Infantry, a regiment that was part of the Army of the Potomac's famous "Iron Brigade".
Bio by: RPD2
Inscription
GEORGE H ELDRIDGE
MEDAL OF HONOR
SGT CO A
24 MICH INF
INDIAN WARS
MAY 12 1844
NOV 20 1918
Family Members
Advertisement
See more Eldridge memorials in:
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
