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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

Marcus M. Robbins

Private Marcus M. Robbins, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on April 23, 1875 at Sappa Creek, Kansas during the Indian Campaigns.

Indian Campaigns April 23, 1875

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Private Marcus M. Robbins received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 23, 1875 at Sappa Creek, Kansas during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with Company H, 6th U.S. Cavalry. Robbins was 23 years old.

7 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on November 16, 1876. He later rose to the rank of Sergeant.

Robbins was born on July 25, 1851 in Elba, Dodge County, Wisconsin. His Medal of Honor is credited to Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. Robbins died on June 21, 1924, at the age of 72. He is buried at Pittsfield Cemetery.

Robbins is one of 426 Medal of Honor recipients from the Indian Campaigns and one of 265 credited to Massachusetts.

Official Medal of Honor citation

With five other men he waded in mud and water up the creek to a position directly behind an entrenched Cheyenne position, who were using natural bank pits to good advantage against the main column. This suprise attack from the enemy rear broke their resistance.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Indian Wars.

Places

  • Born: Elba — map
  • Died: Pittsfield — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →

Timeline

  1. July 25, 1851
    Born in Elba, Dodge County, Wisconsin
  2. April 23, 1875
    Act of valor — Sappa Creek, Kansas
    Age 23. Company H, 6th U.S. Cavalry
  3. November 16, 1876
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. June 21, 1924
    Died
    Age 72.
  5. Resting place
    Pittsfield Cemetery

Biography

Marcus Morton Robbins (July 25, 1851 – June 21, 1924) served in the United States Army during the American Indian Wars. He received the Medal of Honor. Robbins was a resident of Elba, Wisconsin. He died at his daughter's home in Pittsfield, Massachusetts on June 21, 1924, and was buried in Pittsfield Cemetery.

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

Also honored for actions on April 23, 1875

JA James F. Ayers Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1875 MD Michael Dawson Trumpeter · Army Indian Campaigns · 1875 PG Peter W. Gardiner Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1875 EH Elisha Simpson Hornaday Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1875 JL James Lowthers Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1875 FP Frederick Platten Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1875 RT Richard Longstreet Tea Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1875

Same unit

JC John Connor Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1870 JH John Harrington Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874 TK Thomas Kerrigan Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1870 GK George Krause Kitchen Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874 WM William W. Morris Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874 ES Edward Clay Sharpless Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874 CS Charles E. Smith Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1870 AS Alonzo Stokes First Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1870

More Indian Campaigns recipients from Massachusetts

Leonard Wood Assistant Surgeon · Army Indian Campaigns · 1886 Lloyd Milton Brett Second Lieutenant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1880 FN Frederick S. Neilon Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874 MO Michael O'Regan Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1868 JW James Ward Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1890 JP James Pym Private · 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.