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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Corporal · U.S. Army

Jacob Gunther

Corporal Jacob Gunther, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions between August 22 and October 19, 1868 vicinity of the Black Mountains, Arizona during the Indian Campaigns.

Indian Campaigns August 22 - October 19, 1868

Corporal Jacob Gunther, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry between August 22 and October 19, 1868 vicinity of the Black Mountains, Arizona during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with Company E, 8th U.S. Cavalry. Gunther was 23 years old.

11 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on September 6, 1869.

Gunther was born on November 13, 1844 in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Gunther died on March 29, 1871 in Fort Wingate (near Gallup), New Mexico, at the age of 26. He is buried at Santa Fe National Cemetery in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Records also list him as Guenther, Jacob.

Gunther is one of 426 Medal of Honor recipients from the Indian Campaigns and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Bravery in scouts and actions against Indians.

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

Places

  • Died: Fort Wingate — map
  • Buried: Santa Fe National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →

From the archives

Corporal Jacob Gunther died of typhoid and pneumonia at Fort Wingate, Arizona Territory.

Timeline

  1. November 13, 1844
    Born in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania
  2. August 22 - October 19, 1868
    Act of valor — Vicinity of the Black Mountains, Arizona
    Age 23. Company E, 8th U.S. Cavalry
  3. September 6, 1869
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. March 29, 1871
    Died in Fort Wingate (near Gallup), New Mexico
    Age 26.
  5. Resting place
    Santa Fe National Cemetery
    Santa Fe, New Mexico

Also honored for actions on August 22 - October 19, 1868

TC Thomas Carroll Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1868 CC Charles Crandall Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1868 HF Henry Falcott Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1868 NF Nicholas Foran Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1868 FG Francis C. Green Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1868 JH John Hall Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1868 DM David A. Matthews Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1868 JM James McNally First Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1868 SR Samuel Richman Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1868 JS John Alexander Sutherland Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1868 WT Wilbur Nelson Taylor Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1868

Same unit

MC Michael Corcoran Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1869 CD Cornelius Donavan Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1869 FH Frank Hamilton Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1869 JM John Moriarity Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns

More Indian Campaigns recipients from Pennsylvania

MO Moses Orr Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1872 CD Charles Daily Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1868 JT Jacob Trautman First Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1890 HC Heth Canfield Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1870 JK John Kilmartin Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1871 TS Theodore F. Smith Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1869
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.