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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Captain · U.S. Army

James Jackson

Captain James Jackson, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on August 20, 1877 in Camas Meadows, Idaho during the Indian Campaigns.

Indian Campaigns August 20, 1877

Captain James Jackson was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on August 20, 1877 in Camas Meadows, Idaho during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with Troop B, 1st U.S. Cavalry. Jackson was 43 years old.

One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 24, 1896, 18 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Brigadier General.

Jackson was born on November 21, 1833 in New Jersey. His Medal of Honor is credited to Iowa. Jackson died on October 21, 1916 in Portland, Oregon, at the age of 82. He is buried at River View Cemetery in Portland, Oregon.

Jackson is one of 426 Medal of Honor recipients from the Indian Campaigns and one of 55 credited to Iowa.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Dismounted from his horse in the face of a heavy fire from pursuing Indians and, with the assistance of one or two of the men of his command, secured to a place of safety the body of his trumpeter, who had been shot and killed.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: Nez Perce War, American Civil War, Modoc War, American Indian Wars.

Places

  • Born: New Jersey — map
  • Died: Portland — map
  • Buried: River View Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Iowa →

Timeline

  1. November 21, 1833
    Born in New Jersey
  2. August 20, 1877
    Act of valor — Camas Meadows, Idaho
    Age 43. Troop B, 1st U.S. Cavalry
  3. April 24, 1896
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. October 21, 1916
    Died in Portland, Oregon
    Age 82.
  5. Resting place
    River View Cemetery
    Portland, Oregon

Biography

James Jackson (November 21, 1833 – October 21, 1916) was an American officer in the U.S. Army during the mid- to late-19th century. He was a captain with the 12th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the American Civil War and with the 1st U.S. Cavalry in the Indian Wars. While fighting the Nez Percé at Battle of Camas Meadows in 1877, he risked his life to recover the body of another soldier, preventing its mutilation by the enemy. For this act, he received the Medal of Honor nearly 20 years later.

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

Also honored for actions on August 20, 1877

HW Henry Wilkens First Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1877

More Indian Campaigns recipients from Iowa

EH Elisha Simpson Hornaday Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1875 AS Albert Sale Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1869 GG George Gates Bugler · Army Indian Campaigns · 1869
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.