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First Lieutenant · U.S. Army

John Breckinridge Babcock

First Lieutenant John Breckinridge Babcock, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on May 16, 1869 at Spring Creek, Nebraska during the Indian Campaigns.

Indian Campaigns May 16, 1869

First Lieutenant John Breckinridge Babcock, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on May 16, 1869 at Spring Creek, Nebraska during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with 5th U.S. Cavalry. Babcock was 22 years old.

The medal was presented on September 18, 1897, 28 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Brigadier General U.S. Vols..

Babcock was born on February 7, 1847 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. His Medal of Honor is credited to Stonington, New London County, Connecticut. Babcock died on April 26, 1909 in Stonington, Connecticut, at the age of 62. He is buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Stonington, Connecticut. Records also list him as Breckenridge, John.

Babcock is one of 426 Medal of Honor recipients from the Indian Campaigns and one of 57 credited to Connecticut.

Official Medal of Honor citation

While serving with a scouting column, this officer's troop was attacked by a vastly superior force of Indians. Advancing to high ground, he dismounted his men, remaining mounted himself to encourage them, and there fought the Indians until relieved, his horse being wounded.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Indian Wars, American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: New Orleans — map
  • Buried: Stonington Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Connecticut →

Timeline

  1. February 7, 1847
    Born in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana
  2. May 16, 1869
    Act of valor — Spring Creek, Nebraska
    Age 22. 5th U.S. Cavalry
  3. September 18, 1897
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. April 26, 1909
    Died in Stonington, Connecticut
    Age 62.
  5. Resting place
    Evergreen Cemetery
    Stonington, Connecticut

Biography

John Breckinridge Babcock (February 7, 1843 – April 26, 1909) was a US Army officer who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Indian Wars. (Note - his obituary in the New York Times states he was born in 1847, but this is not supported by the Official Army Register.)

From the Wikipedia article “John B. Babcock”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Same unit

Abraham Kerns Arnold Captain · Army Civil War · 1864 William Preble Hall First Lieutenant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1879

More Indian Campaigns recipients from Connecticut

George William Baird First Lieutenant, Adjutant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1877
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.