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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

First Sergeant · U.S. Army

Michael McCarthy

First Sergeant Michael McCarthy, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on June 17, 1877 at White Bird Canyon, Idaho during the Indian Campaigns.

Indian Campaigns June 17, 1877Born in Canada

First Sergeant Michael McCarthy, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on June 17, 1877 at White Bird Canyon, Idaho during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with Troop H, 1st U.S. Cavalry. McCarthy was 32 years old.

One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on November 20, 1897, 20 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Colonel, Washington Army National Guard.

McCarthy was born on April 19, 1845 in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada — one of 60 recipients born in Canada. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York, New York. McCarthy died on January 15, 1914, at the age of 68. He is buried at Mountain View Cemetery in Walla Walla, Washington.

McCarthy 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

Was detailed with six men to hold a commanding position and held it with great gallantry until the troops fell back. He then fought his way through the Indians, rejoined a portion of his command, and continued the fight in retreat. He had two horses shot from under him and was captured, but escaped and reported for duty after three days' hiding and wandering in the mountains.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: Nez Perce War.

Places

  • Buried: Mountain View Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. April 19, 1845
    Born in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
  2. June 17, 1877
    Act of valor — White Bird Canyon, Idaho
    Age 32. Troop H, 1st U.S. Cavalry
  3. November 20, 1897
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. January 15, 1914
    Died
    Age 68.
  5. Resting place
    Mountain View Cemetery
    Walla Walla, Washington

Biography

Michael M. McCarthy (April 19, 1845 – January 12, 1914) was a British North America-born US Army soldier who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Indian Wars. He was born in St. John's, Newfoundland Colony, and moved with his family to Massachusetts in 1852. McCarthy joined the Army in November 1865, a few months after the American Civil War. He later served in the Nez Perce War and during the Battle of White Bird Canyon, as first sergeant, Troop H, 1st Cavalry, he earned the Medal of Honor. He was discharged in May 1879 with the rank of quartermaster sergeant.

From the Wikipedia article “Michael M. McCarthy”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on June 17, 1877

William Russell Parnell First Lieutenant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1877

More Indian Campaigns recipients from New York

CM Charles H. Montrose Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 CC Charles Cunningham Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 Robert Temple Emmet Second Lieutenant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1879 JS Julius Alexis Schou Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1870 TM Thomas Murray Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 MD Michael Dawson Trumpeter · Army Indian Campaigns · 1875
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.