Indian Wars Medal of Honor Recipient. Served during the Wars with the Plains Indians first as a Private, later First Sergeant, in Company H, 7th United States Cavalry. He was awarded the Medal of Honor on October 5, 1878 for his actions during the Battle of the Little Big Horn, where he was wounded in the buttocks. Born in Bergen, Germany, the son of Joseph and Adelphina Koch Windolph, he arrived in the United States in 1871 at age 19, working as a shoemaker. He enlisted on November 12, 1871 in Company A, 2nd United States Infantry, and deserted on July 18, 1872 in Atlanta, Georgia. Enlisting as Charles Wrangel on July 23, 1872 in Nashville, Tennessee, he joined the 7th Cavalry. He surrendered as a deserter on November 19, 1873, under the President's Proclaimation of General Amnesty, and was restored to duty without penalty. Participated in the 1873 Yellowstone Expedition, the 1874 Black Hills Expedition, and the 1876 Sioux Campaign. Promoted to Corporal on September 1, 1876, following the Battle of the Little Big Horn. He married Mary Jones on June 15, 1882, but she died within a year, without children. He was discharged on March 21, 1883 at Fort Meade, North Dakota. He worked as a blacksmith for 49 years for the Homestake Mining Company, until 1932. Awarded the Purple Heart in 1921, he died at age 98, with his cause of death listed as senility.
Indian Wars Medal of Honor Recipient. Served during the Wars with the Plains Indians first as a Private, later First Sergeant, in Company H, 7th United States Cavalry. He was awarded the Medal of Honor on October 5, 1878 for his actions during the Battle of the Little Big Horn, where he was wounded in the buttocks. Born in Bergen, Germany, the son of Joseph and Adelphina Koch Windolph, he arrived in the United States in 1871 at age 19, working as a shoemaker. He enlisted on November 12, 1871 in Company A, 2nd United States Infantry, and deserted on July 18, 1872 in Atlanta, Georgia. Enlisting as Charles Wrangel on July 23, 1872 in Nashville, Tennessee, he joined the 7th Cavalry. He surrendered as a deserter on November 19, 1873, under the President's Proclaimation of General Amnesty, and was restored to duty without penalty. Participated in the 1873 Yellowstone Expedition, the 1874 Black Hills Expedition, and the 1876 Sioux Campaign. Promoted to Corporal on September 1, 1876, following the Battle of the Little Big Horn. He married Mary Jones on June 15, 1882, but she died within a year, without children. He was discharged on March 21, 1883 at Fort Meade, North Dakota. He worked as a blacksmith for 49 years for the Homestake Mining Company, until 1932. Awarded the Purple Heart in 1921, he died at age 98, with his cause of death listed as senility.
Bio by: Kit and Morgan Benson
Inscription
Front of marker
MEDAL OF HONOR
SGT
US ARMY
INDIAN WARS
Back of marker
NEW YORK
TRP H
7 REGT
US CAV
Family Members
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