John Mitchell Merrill – Medal of Honor, Indian Campaigns (1879)

Sergeant John Mitchell Merrill was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on September 29, 1879 at Milk River, Colorado during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with Company F, 5th U.S. Cavalry. Merrill was about 33 years old.

8 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on June 7, 1880.

Merrill was born in 1846 in New York, New York. Merrill died on June 10, 1883 in Fort D.A. Russell, Wyoming, at the age of about 37. He is buried at Olivet Catholic Cemetery in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Merrill 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

Though painfully wounded, he remained on duty and rendered gallant and valuable service.

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

Wounds and injuries

What the citation records about his wounds:

Though painfully wounded, he remained on duty and rendered gallant and valuable service.

Age at death: about 37
Resting place: Olivet Catholic Cemetery

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Indian Wars.

Places

Born: New York — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

1846
Born in New York, New York
September 29, 1879
Act of valor — Milk River, Colorado
Age about 33. Company F, 5th U.S. Cavalry
June 7, 1880
Medal of Honor presented
June 10, 1883
Died in Fort D.A. Russell, Wyoming
Age about 37.
Resting place
Olivet Catholic Cemetery
Cheyenne, Wyoming

Biography

John Mitchell Merrill (1846 - 1883) was an American soldier from New York City and a recipient of the Medal of Honor for service during the Indian Wars. Sergeant Merrill served in the 5th U.S. Cavalry, Company F. At the battle of Milk Creek, Colorado on September 29, 1879, his conduct was exemplary. He earned special commendation because, although painfully wounded, "he remained on duty and rendered gallant and valuable service" while being besieged by Ute warriors in a wagon corral for 5 days. The Medal of Honor was officially presented in a ceremony on June 7, 1880. Merrill is buried in Olivet Catholic Cemetery, which is located in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

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

Also honored for actions on September 29, 1879

Francis Safford Dodge Captain · Army Indian Campaigns · 1879

Edward P. Grimes Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1879 GM George Moquin Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1879 EM Edward F. Murphy Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1879 WP Wilhelm O. Philipsen Blacksmith · Army Indian Campaigns · 1879 JP John A. Poppe Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1879 HR Hampton Mitchell Roach Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1879 JW Jacob Widmer First Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1879

Same unit

JB James Brown Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1872 MG Michael Glynn Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1872 HN Henry Newman First Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1872

John Nihill Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1872

More Indian Campaigns recipients from New York

JB James Bell Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 DB Denis Byrne Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 CH Charles Frederic Humphrey First Lieutenant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1877 CK Charles Kelley Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1869 MH Mathew H. Hamilton Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1890 EB Edmond Thomas Butler Captain · 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.