William O'Neill (Medal of Honor)
Encyclopedia
William O'Neill was an American
soldier in the U.S. Army
who served with the 4th U.S. Cavalry during the Indian Wars
. He was one of several men who received the Medal of Honor
for gallantry while fighting the Comanche
at Red River, Texas on September 29, 1872.
in 1848. He later moved to New York City, New York where he enlisted in the U.S. Army. O'Neill was assigned to frontier duty with Company I of the 4th U.S. Cavalry and later took part in the Red River War
. In late-September 1872, O'Neill was among the cavalry troopers who followed Colonel Ranald Slidell Mackenzie in an expedition over the Staked Plains of Texas
. After a one-day march to reach the North Fork of the Red River, his regiment encountered large encampment of 280 Comanche
warriors on September 29. Although the cavalrymen attempted to take the enemy by surprise, the Indians' ponies stampeded at the soldiers approach alerting the camp. Engaged in fierce combat with the Comanche, O'Neill and his company led the advance and were able to secure the camp with the loss of only one trooper killed and three others wounded. The Mow-wi tribe of Comanche, who lost 23 braves in the battle, were humbled by this victory and surrendered at Fort Sill
ending 17 years of continuous warfare. On November 19, 1872, O'Neill was among the soldiers who received the Medal of Honor
for "bravery in action". A memorial marker was also erected in his memory at Fort Concho National Historic Landmark
in San Angelo, Texas
.
Citation:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soldier in the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
who served with the 4th U.S. Cavalry during the Indian Wars
Indian Wars
American Indian Wars is the name used in the United States to describe a series of conflicts between American settlers or the federal government and the native peoples of North America before and after the American Revolutionary War. The wars resulted from the arrival of European colonizers who...
. He was one of several men who received the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for gallantry while fighting the Comanche
Comanche
The Comanche are a Native American ethnic group whose historic range consisted of present-day eastern New Mexico, southern Colorado, northeastern Arizona, southern Kansas, all of Oklahoma, and most of northwest Texas. Historically, the Comanches were hunter-gatherers, with a typical Plains Indian...
at Red River, Texas on September 29, 1872.
Biography
William O'Neill was born in Tariffville, ConnecticutTariffville, Connecticut
Tariffville is a neighborhood and census-designated place in the town of Simsbury in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is a popular location for whitewater paddlers who use the Farmington River...
in 1848. He later moved to New York City, New York where he enlisted in the U.S. Army. O'Neill was assigned to frontier duty with Company I of the 4th U.S. Cavalry and later took part in the Red River War
Red River War
The Red River War was a military campaign launched by the United States Army in 1874, as part of the Comanche War, to remove the Comanche, Kiowa, Southern Cheyenne, and Arapaho Native American tribes from the Southern Plains and forcibly relocate them to reservations in Indian Territory...
. In late-September 1872, O'Neill was among the cavalry troopers who followed Colonel Ranald Slidell Mackenzie in an expedition over the Staked Plains of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. After a one-day march to reach the North Fork of the Red River, his regiment encountered large encampment of 280 Comanche
Comanche
The Comanche are a Native American ethnic group whose historic range consisted of present-day eastern New Mexico, southern Colorado, northeastern Arizona, southern Kansas, all of Oklahoma, and most of northwest Texas. Historically, the Comanches were hunter-gatherers, with a typical Plains Indian...
warriors on September 29. Although the cavalrymen attempted to take the enemy by surprise, the Indians' ponies stampeded at the soldiers approach alerting the camp. Engaged in fierce combat with the Comanche, O'Neill and his company led the advance and were able to secure the camp with the loss of only one trooper killed and three others wounded. The Mow-wi tribe of Comanche, who lost 23 braves in the battle, were humbled by this victory and surrendered at Fort Sill
Fort Sill
Fort Sill is a United States Army post near Lawton, Oklahoma, about 85 miles southwest of Oklahoma City.Today, Fort Sill remains the only active Army installation of all the forts on the South Plains built during the Indian Wars...
ending 17 years of continuous warfare. On November 19, 1872, O'Neill was among the soldiers who received the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for "bravery in action". A memorial marker was also erected in his memory at Fort Concho National Historic Landmark
Fort Concho
Fort Concho is a National Historic Landmark owned and operated since 1935 by the city of San Angelo, the seat of Tom Green County in West Texas...
in San Angelo, Texas
San Angelo, Texas
San Angelo is a city in the state of Texas. Located in West Central Texas it is the county seat of Tom Green County. As of 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total population of 93,200...
.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Corporal, Company I, 4th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Red River, Tex., 29 September 1872. Entered service at: ------. Birth: Tariffville, Conn. Date of issue: 19 November 1872.Citation:
Bravery in action.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Indian Wars
Further reading
- Konstantin, Phil. This Day in North American Indian History: Important Dates in the History of North America's Native Peoples for Every Calendar Day. New York: Da Capo Press, 2002. ISBN 0-306-81170-7