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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

First Lieutenant · U.S. Army

Benjamin Harrison Cheever Jr.

First Lieutenant Benjamin Harrison Cheever Jr., Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on January 1, 1891 at White River, South Dakota during the Indian Campaigns.

Indian Campaigns January 1, 1891

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, First Lieutenant Benjamin Harrison Cheever Jr. received the Medal of Honor for his actions on January 1, 1891 at White River, South Dakota during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with 6th U.S. Cavalry. Cheever was 40 years old.

5 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 25, 1891. He later rose to the rank of Colonel.

Cheever was born on June 7, 1850 in Washington, District of Columbia. Cheever died on October 21, 1930 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, at the age of 80. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

Cheever is one of 426 Medal of Honor recipients from the Indian Campaigns and one of 34 credited to District of Columbia.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Headed the advance across White River, partly frozen, in a spirited movement to the effective assistance of Troop K, 6th U.S. Cavalry.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Places

  • Born: Washington, D.C. — map
  • Buried: Arlington National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in District of Columbia →

Timeline

  1. June 7, 1850
    Born in Washington, District of Columbia
  2. January 1, 1891
    Act of valor — White River, South Dakota
    Age 40. 6th U.S. Cavalry
  3. April 25, 1891
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. October 21, 1930
    Died in Atlantic City, New Jersey
    Age 80.
  5. Resting place
    Arlington National Cemetery
    Arlington, Virginia

Biography

Benjamin Harrison Cheever Jr. (June 7, 1850 – October 21, 1930) was a US Army officer who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Indian Wars. He was born in Washington, D.C. Cheever was appointed as second lieutenant of the 6th Cavalry Regiment in August 1876, and was promoted to first lieutenant in December 1881. He was promoted to captain in March 1893, and served as an inspector general of US Volunteers during the Spanish-American War, serving in the Philippines. In September 1902, he was promoted to major in the 8th Cavalry Regiment, but returned to his old regiment half a year later, and continued serving until his retirement with the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1910.

From the Wikipedia article “Benjamin H. Cheever Jr.”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on January 1, 1891

Robert Lee Howze Second Lieutenant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1891 John Brown Kerr Captain · Army Indian Campaigns · 1891 JK Joseph F. Knight Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1891 FM Fred Myers Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1891 Cornelius Cole Smith First Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1891

Same unit

William Harding Carter First Lieutenant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1881 Thomas Cruse Second Lieutenant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1882 John Thomas Kennedy Second Lieutenant · Army Philippine Insurrection · 1909 Archie Miller First Lieutenant · Army Philippine Insurrection · 1909 Frank West First Lieutenant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1882 Arthur Harrison Wilson Second Lieutenant · Army Philippine Insurrection · 1909

More Indian Campaigns recipients from District of Columbia

GH George Hooker Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1873 ✦ SB Sanford Bradbury First Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1869 Bernard Taylor Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874 ✦ Will Croft Barnes Private First Class · Army Indian Campaigns · 1881
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.