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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

James Spencer Calvert

Private James Spencer Calvert, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on October 21, 1876 at Cedar Creek, etc., Montana during the Indian Campaigns.

Indian Campaigns October 21, 1876

Private James Spencer Calvert was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on October 21, 1876 at Cedar Creek, etc., Montana during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with Company C, 5th U.S. Infantry. Calvert was 24 years old.

29 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 27, 1877. He later rose to the rank of Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant.

Calvert was born on June 27, 1852 in Athens County, Ohio. His Medal of Honor is credited to Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois. Calvert died on February 26, 1929 in Washington, District of Columbia, at the age of 76. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. His medal is held by Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Mount Pleasant, SC.

Calvert is one of 426 Medal of Honor recipients from the Indian Campaigns and one of 210 credited to Illinois.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Gallantry in action.

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

Timeline

  1. June 27, 1852
    Born in Athens County, Ohio
  2. October 21, 1876
    Act of valor — Cedar Creek, etc., Montana
    Age 24. Company C, 5th U.S. Infantry
  3. April 27, 1877
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. February 26, 1929
    Died in Washington, District of Columbia
    Age 76.
  5. Resting place
    Arlington National Cemetery
    Arlington, Virginia

Further reading

Also honored for actions on October 21, 1876

JB John Baker Musician · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 RB Richard Burke Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 DB Denis Byrne Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 JC Joseph A. Cable Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 AC Aquilla Coonrod Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 JD John S. Donelly Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 CF Christopher Freemeyer Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 JH John Haddoo Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 HH Henry Hogan Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 DH David Holland Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 EJ Edward Johnston Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 PK Philip Kennedy Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876

See all 30 recipients for October 21, 1876 →

More Indian Campaigns recipients from Illinois

ES Elmer A. Snow Trumpeter · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 JS James Sumner Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1869 NB Neil Bancroft Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 Theodore W. b Goldin Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 PM Philip Murphy Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1869 JM John Mitchell First Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.