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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Sergeant · U.S. Army

George Jordan

Sergeant George Jordan, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on August 12, 1881 at Fort Tularosa & Carrizo Canyon, New Mexico during the Indian Campaigns.

Indian Campaigns August 12, 1881

Sergeant George Jordan was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on August 12, 1881 at Fort Tularosa & Carrizo Canyon, New Mexico during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with Company K, 9th U.S. Cavalry. Jordan was about 34 years old.

One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on May 7, 1890, 8 years after the action.

Jordan was born in 1847 in Williamson County, Tennessee. His Medal of Honor is credited to Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee. Jordan died on October 24, 1904, at the age of about 57. He is buried at Fort McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell, Nebraska.

Jordan is one of 426 Medal of Honor recipients from the Indian Campaigns and one of 33 credited to Tennessee.

Official Medal of Honor citation

While commanding a detachment of 25 men at Fort Tularosa, N. Mex., repulsed a force of more than 100 Indians. At Carrizo Canyon, N. Mex., while commanding the right of a detachment of 19 men, 12 August 1881, he stubbornly held his ground in an extremely exposed position and gallantly forced back a much superior number of the enemy, preventing them from surrounding the command.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: Battle of Carrizo Canyon, Battle of Fort Tularosa, Apache Wars.

Places

  • Born: Williamson County — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Tennessee →

Timeline

  1. 1847
    Born in Williamson County, Tennessee
  2. August 12, 1881
    Act of valor — Fort Tularosa & Carrizo Canyon, New Mexico
    Age about 34. Company K, 9th U.S. Cavalry
  3. May 7, 1890
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. October 24, 1904
    Died
    Age about 57.
  5. Resting place
    Fort McPherson National Cemetery
    Maxwell, Nebraska

Biography

George Jordan (c. 1847 – October 24, 1904) was a Buffalo Soldier in the United States Army and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Indian Wars of the western United States.

From the Wikipedia article “George Jordan (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on August 12, 1881

TS Thomas Shaw Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1881

More Indian Campaigns recipients from Tennessee

JK John Kyle Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1869 CB Clay Beauford First Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1872 George Hobday Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1890
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.