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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

First Lieutenant · U.S. Army

Mason Carter

First Lieutenant Mason Carter, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on September 30, 1877 at Bear Paw Mountain, Montana during the Indian Campaigns.

Indian Campaigns September 30, 1877

First Lieutenant Mason Carter was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on September 30, 1877 at Bear Paw Mountain, Montana during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with 5th U.S. Infantry. Carter was 43 years old.

8 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on November 27, 1894, 17 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Brevet Major.

Carter was born on January 26, 1834 in Augusta, Richmond County, Georgia. Carter died on December 11, 1909 in San Diego, California, at the age of 75. He is buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California. Records also list him as Howard, Mason.

Carter is one of 426 Medal of Honor recipients from the Indian Campaigns and one of 23 credited to Georgia.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Led a charge under a galling fire, in which he inflicted great loss upon the enemy.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War, American Indian Wars.

Places

  • Born: Augusta — map
  • Died: San Diego — map
  • Buried: Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Georgia →

From the archives

Medal of Honor Recipient Mason Carter first enlisted in the U.S. Army under the name of "Mason Howard." The reason for the alias is unknown at this time.

Timeline

  1. January 26, 1834
    Born in Augusta, Richmond County, Georgia
  2. September 30, 1877
    Act of valor — Bear Paw Mountain, Montana
    Age 43. 5th U.S. Infantry
  3. November 27, 1894
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. December 11, 1909
    Died in San Diego, California
    Age 75.
  5. Resting place
    Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery
    San Diego, California

Biography

Mason Carter (January 26, 1834 – December 11, 1909) was a U.S. Army officer who served in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars during the late 19th century. He received the Medal of Honor for his role in the Battle of Bear Paw fought on January 8, 1877. At the age of 14, Carter enlisted with the United States Navy and went to sea as an active midshipman and upon his return he attended the United States Naval Academy. After failing the final examination repeatedly, he resigned from the Navy in 1856. He enlisted with the United States Army in 1860.

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

Also honored for actions on September 30, 1877

George William Baird First Lieutenant, Adjutant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1877 Edward Settle Godfrey Captain · Army Indian Campaigns · 1877 HH Henry Hogan First Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1877 Oscar Fitzalan Long Second Lieutenant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1877 EM Edward John McClernand Second Lieutenant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1877 Myles Moylan Captain · Army Indian Campaigns · 1877 Henry Romeyn First Lieutenant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1877 Henry Remsen Tilton Major and Surgeon · Army Indian Campaigns · 1877

Same unit

Frank Dwight Baldwin First Lieutenant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874 EB Edmond Thomas Butler Captain · Army Indian Campaigns · 1877 James Seaman Casey Captain · Army Indian Campaigns · 1877 RM Robert McDonald First Lieutenant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1877

More Indian Campaigns recipients from Georgia

Ernest Albert Garlington First Lieutenant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1890
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.