Private James Bell, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on July 9, 1876 in Big Horn, Montana during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with Company E, 7th U.S. Infantry. Bell was about 31 years old.
3 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on December 2, 1876. He later rose to the rank of Sergeant.
Bell was born in 1845 in County Antrim, Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Troy, Rensselaer County, New York. Bell died on July 1, 1901 in Chicago, Illinois, at the age of about 56. He is buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois.
Bell is one of 426 Medal of Honor recipients from the Indian Campaigns and one of 678 credited to New York.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Carried dispatches to Gen. Crook at the imminent risk of his life.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Indian Wars.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
Timeline
- 1845Born in County Antrim, Ireland
- July 9, 1876Act of valor — Big Horn, MontanaAge about 31. Company E, 7th U.S. Infantry
- December 2, 1876Medal of Honor presented
- July 1, 1901Died in Chicago, IllinoisAge about 56.
- Resting placeMount Olivet CemeteryChicago, Illinois
Biography
James Joseph Bell (July 1, 1845 – June 1, 1901) was a United States Army soldier who received the Medal of Honor during the Indian Wars. His name is sometimes incorrectly given as James M. Bell.
From the Wikipedia article “James Bell (soldier, born 1845)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
