Indian Wars Medal of Honor Recipient. He served in the United States Army during the Wars with the Plains Indians as Captain and commander of Company A, 7th United States Cavalry regiment, and was present at the June 25, 1876 Battle of the Little Big Horn. Survived the battle, going on to finish a military career. He was awarded the Medal of Honor on 27 November 1894, for his actions fighting the Nez Perce Indians at Snake Creek on 30 Sept 1877. The son of Thomas and Margaret Riley Moylan, he worked as a shoemaker until his enlistment on 8 June 1857 as a private in 2nd Dragoons. Promoted to Corporal on 1 Oct 1858, Sergeant Oct 1860, and First Sergeant 17 May 1861. Promoted to 2nd Lieutenant, 5th US Cavalry, 28 March 1863. Fought at Wilson's Creek (1861), Forts Henry and Donelson (1861), Shiloh (1862), Corinth (1862), and Gettysburg (1863). Dismissed from service on 25 Oct 1863, for being in Washington DC without permission, he enlisted under the assumed name of Charles Thomas in the 4th Mass. Cavalry on 2 Dec 1863. Appointed Sergeant on 26 Dec 1863, First Lieutenant then Captain on 1 Dec 1864. Bevetted Major on 9 April 1865. Mustered out in Nov 1865; he enlisted as Private, Jan 1866. Appointed Sgt Major, 7th US Cavalry, 1 Sept 1866, and promoted to First Lt Dec 1866, to Captain in March 1872. He married Charlotte Calhoun on 22 Oct 1872 at Madison, Indiana; they had no children. Participated in 1868 Washita Campaign, 1873 Yellowstone Expedition, 1874 Black Hills Expedition, 1876 Sioux Campaign, 1877 Nez Perce campaign, and 1890 Wounded Knee Battle. Promoted to Major, April 1892, and retired on 15 April 1893. Died at his home in San Diego, cause stomach cancer.
Indian Wars Medal of Honor Recipient. He served in the United States Army during the Wars with the Plains Indians as Captain and commander of Company A, 7th United States Cavalry regiment, and was present at the June 25, 1876 Battle of the Little Big Horn. Survived the battle, going on to finish a military career. He was awarded the Medal of Honor on 27 November 1894, for his actions fighting the Nez Perce Indians at Snake Creek on 30 Sept 1877. The son of Thomas and Margaret Riley Moylan, he worked as a shoemaker until his enlistment on 8 June 1857 as a private in 2nd Dragoons. Promoted to Corporal on 1 Oct 1858, Sergeant Oct 1860, and First Sergeant 17 May 1861. Promoted to 2nd Lieutenant, 5th US Cavalry, 28 March 1863. Fought at Wilson's Creek (1861), Forts Henry and Donelson (1861), Shiloh (1862), Corinth (1862), and Gettysburg (1863). Dismissed from service on 25 Oct 1863, for being in Washington DC without permission, he enlisted under the assumed name of Charles Thomas in the 4th Mass. Cavalry on 2 Dec 1863. Appointed Sergeant on 26 Dec 1863, First Lieutenant then Captain on 1 Dec 1864. Bevetted Major on 9 April 1865. Mustered out in Nov 1865; he enlisted as Private, Jan 1866. Appointed Sgt Major, 7th US Cavalry, 1 Sept 1866, and promoted to First Lt Dec 1866, to Captain in March 1872. He married Charlotte Calhoun on 22 Oct 1872 at Madison, Indiana; they had no children. Participated in 1868 Washita Campaign, 1873 Yellowstone Expedition, 1874 Black Hills Expedition, 1876 Sioux Campaign, 1877 Nez Perce campaign, and 1890 Wounded Knee Battle. Promoted to Major, April 1892, and retired on 15 April 1893. Died at his home in San Diego, cause stomach cancer.
Bio by: Kit and Morgan Benson
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