Private Joseph Witcome, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on August 13, 1868 vicinity of the Black Mountains, Arizona during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with Company B, 8th U.S. Cavalry. Witcome was about 22 years old.
30 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on July 24, 1869.
Witcome was born in 1846 in Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Witcome died on October 7, 1869 in Ash Creek, Arizona, at the age of about 23. He is buried at San Francisco National Cemetery in San Francisco, California.
Witcome is one of 426 Medal of Honor recipients from the Indian Campaigns and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Bravery in scouts and actions against Indians.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Timeline
- 1846Born in Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
- August 13, 1868Act of valor — Vicinity of the Black Mountains, ArizonaAge about 22. Company B, 8th U.S. Cavalry
- July 24, 1869Medal of Honor presented
- October 7, 1869Died in Ash Creek, ArizonaAge about 23.
- Resting placeSan Francisco National CemeterySan Francisco, California
