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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

First Sergeant · U.S. Army

John Mitchell

First Sergeant John Mitchell, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on September 9, 1874 in Upper Washita, Texas during the Indian Campaigns.

Indian Campaigns September 9, 1874Born in Ireland

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, First Sergeant John Mitchell received the Medal of Honor for his actions on September 9, 1874 in Upper Washita, Texas during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with Company I, 5th U.S. Infantry. Mitchell was about 28 years old.

11 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 23, 1875. He later rose to the rank of Ordnance Sergeant.

Mitchell was born in 1846 in County Tyrone, Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois. Mitchell died on May 1, 1904, at the age of about 58. He is buried at San Francisco National Cemetery in San Francisco, Arizona.

Mitchell 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 engagement with Indians.

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

Timeline

  1. 1846
    Born in County Tyrone, Ireland
  2. September 9, 1874
    Act of valor — Upper Washita, Texas
    Age about 28. Company I, 5th U.S. Infantry
  3. April 23, 1875
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. May 1, 1904
    Died
    Age about 58.
  5. Resting place
    San Francisco National Cemetery
    San Francisco, Arizona

Also honored for actions on September 9, 1874

WD William de Armond Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874 ✦ FH Fred Stewart Hay Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874 JJ John James Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874 JK John J. h Kelly Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874 TK Thomas Kelly Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874 GK George Krause Kitchen Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874 JK John W. Knox Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874 WK William Koelpin Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874 WM William W. Morris Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874 FN Frederick S. Neilon Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874 ES Edward Clay Sharpless Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874

Same unit

JC Joseph A. Cable Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 FH Fred O. Hunt Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1877 CM Charles H. Montrose Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876

More Indian Campaigns recipients from Illinois

Theodore W. b Goldin Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 SC Samuel Henry Craig Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1886 JW Joseph Watson Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1869 JS James Sumner Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1869 JT John Thompson Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1869 PK Philip Kennedy Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876
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.