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Private · U.S. Army

James Anderson Jr.

Private James Anderson Jr., Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on October 5, 1870 at Wichita River, Texas during the Indian Campaigns.

Indian Campaigns October 5, 1870Born in Canada

Private James Anderson Jr., a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on October 5, 1870 at Wichita River, Texas during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with Company M, 6th U.S. Cavalry. Anderson was 21 years old.

5 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on November 19, 1870. He later rose to the rank of Sergeant.

Anderson was born on May 28, 1849 in Canada — one of 60 recipients born in Canada. His Medal of Honor is credited to St. Louis, St. Louis County, Missouri. Anderson died on May 31, 1918 in St. Louis, Missouri, at the age of 69. He is buried at St. Peter & Paul Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri. Records also list him as Smythe, James.

Anderson is one of 426 Medal of Honor recipients from the Indian Campaigns and one of 78 credited to Missouri.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Gallantry during the pursuit and fight with Indians.

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

How he died

  • Manner of death: natural causes
  • Cause of death: infectious disease
  • Age at death: 69
  • Resting place: St. Peter & Paul Cemetery

Cause and manner of death: Wikidata.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Indian Wars.

Places

  • Born: Canada — map
  • Died: St. Louis — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Missouri →

Timeline

  1. May 28, 1849
    Born in Canada
  2. October 5, 1870
    Act of valor — Wichita River, Texas
    Age 21. Company M, 6th U.S. Cavalry
  3. November 19, 1870
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. May 31, 1918
    Died in St. Louis, Missouri
    Age 69.
  5. Resting place
    St. Peter & Paul Cemetery
    St. Louis, Missouri

Biography

James Anderson (May 28, 1849 – May 31, 1918), born James Anderson Smythe, was a Canadian-born soldier in the U.S. Army who served with the 6th U.S. Cavalry during the Texas–Indian Wars. He was one of six men received the Medal of Honor for gallantry against a hostile band of Plains Indians at the Wichita River in Texas on October 5, 1870.

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

Also honored for actions on October 5, 1870

SB Samuel Bowden Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1870 JD James B. Dozier Guide · Army Indian Campaigns · 1870 DK Daniel Keating Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1870 MW Michael Welch Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1870 BW Benjamin Wilson Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1870

Same unit

JP Josiah Pennsyl Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874 GS George W. Smith Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874 ✦

More Indian Campaigns recipients from Missouri

JS John Henry Shingle First Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 George Geiger Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 William Evans Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 AB Abram B. Brant Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 ✦ CS Charles Schroeter Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1869 FM Fred Myers Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1891
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.