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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

John Nihill

Private John Nihill, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on July 13, 1872 in Whetstone Mountains, Arizona Territory during the Indian Campaigns.

Indian Campaigns July 13, 1872Born in Ireland

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Private John Nihill received the Medal of Honor for his actions on July 13, 1872 in Whetstone Mountains, Arizona Territory during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with Company F, 5th U.S. Cavalry. Nihill was 22 years old.

2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on December 4, 1874, 2 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Sergeant.

Nihill was born on May 25, 1850 in Nenagh, County Tipperary, Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Brooklyn, Kings County, New York. Nihill died on May 29, 1908, at the age of 58. He is buried at Cypress Hills National Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.

Nihill 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

Fought and defeated four hostile Apaches located between him and his comrades.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: Apache Wars.

Places

  • Born: Nenagh — map
  • Died: Whitestone — map
  • Buried: Cypress Hills National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. May 25, 1850
    Born in Nenagh, County Tipperary, Ireland
  2. July 13, 1872
    Act of valor — Whetstone Mountains, Arizona Territory
    Age 22. Company F, 5th U.S. Cavalry
  3. December 4, 1874
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. May 29, 1908
    Died
    Age 58.
  5. Resting place
    Cypress Hills National Cemetery
    Brooklyn, New York

Biography

John Nihill (May 25, 1850 – May 29, 1908) was an Irish-born soldier in the U.S. Army who served with the 5th U.S. Cavalry during the Indian Wars. A participant in the Apache Wars, he received the Medal of Honor for bravery when he single-handedly fought off four Apache warriors in the Whetstone Mountains of Arizona on July 13, 1872. At the time of his death, he was the only enlisted man to be admitted as a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. A well-known Indian fighter during his lifetime, Nihill was close friends with William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody and Captain Jack Crawford.

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

Also honored for actions on July 13, 1872

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

Same unit

JB James Brown Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1872 Edward P. Grimes Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1879 JM John Mitchell Merrill Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1879 GM George Moquin Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1879 JP John A. Poppe Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1879 HR Hampton Mitchell Roach Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1879

More Indian Campaigns recipients from New York

RB Richard Burke Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 CC Charles Cunningham Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 CW Charles Windolph Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 CD Cornelius Donavan Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1869 WF William H. Folly Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1868 RM Robert McPhelan Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876
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.