Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Private Edgar R. Aston received the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 30, 1868 in San Carlos, Arizona during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with Company L, 8th U.S. Cavalry. Aston was about 22 years old.
One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on July 28, 1868.
Aston was born in 1846 in Clermont County, Ohio. His Medal of Honor is credited to Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio. Aston died on April 14, 1932, at the age of about 86. He is buried at Tate Township Cemetery in Bethel, Ohio.
Aston is one of 426 Medal of Honor recipients from the Indian Campaigns and one of 256 credited to Ohio.
Official Medal of Honor citation
With two other men he volunteered to search for a wagon passage out of a 4,000-foot valley wherein an infantry column was immobile. This small group passed six miles through hostile Apache terrain, finding the sought passage. On their return trip down the canyon they were attacked by Apaches, who were successfully held at bay.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War, American Indian Wars.
Places
Timeline
- 1846Born in Clermont County, Ohio
- May 30, 1868Act of valor — San Carlos, ArizonaAge about 22. Company L, 8th U.S. Cavalry
- July 28, 1868Medal of Honor presented
- April 14, 1932DiedAge about 86.
- Resting placeTate Township CemeteryBethel, Ohio
Biography
Edgar R. Aston (1847 – April 14, 1932) was a soldier in the U.S. Army who served with the 8th U.S. Cavalry during the Apache Wars against Cochise. He was one of two men, along with Pvt. William Cubberly, who received the Medal of Honor for finding a passageway for an army column trapped in a 4,000-foot valley, and later defending his party against an Apache attack, at San Carlos, Arizona on May 30, 1868.
From the Wikipedia article “Edgar R. Aston”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →