Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Captain Myles Moylan 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 7th U.S. Cavalry. Moylan was 38 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 Major.
Moylan was born on December 17, 1838 in Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts. His Medal of Honor is credited to Essex, Essex County, Massachusetts. Moylan died on December 11, 1909 in San Diego, California, at the age of 70. He is buried at Greenwood Cemetery in San Diego, California.
Moylan is one of 426 Medal of Honor recipients from the Indian Campaigns and one of 265 credited to Massachusetts.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Gallantly led his command in action against Nez Perce Indians until he was severely wounded.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and injuries
What the citation records about his wounds:
Gallantly led his command in action against Nez Perce Indians until he was severely wounded.
- Age at death: 70
- Resting place: Greenwood Cemetery
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →
From the archives
Myles Moylan served many years in the U.S. Army. During that time, he gave varying places of birth. Sometimes it was Amesbury, Massachusetts, and sometimes it was Tuam, County Galway, Ireland. Birth records show that he was, indeed, born in Ireland. Official Army records continue to show his birthplace as Amesbury because that is the place of birth he gave when he started the enlistment for which he earned the Medal of Honor.
Timeline
- December 17, 1838Born in Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts
- September 30, 1877Act of valor — Bear Paw Mountain, MontanaAge 38. 7th U.S. Cavalry
- November 27, 1894Medal of Honor presented
- December 11, 1909Died in San Diego, CaliforniaAge 70.
- Resting placeGreenwood CemeterySan Diego, California
Biography
Myles Moylan (December 17, 1838 – December 11, 1909) was a United States Army officer with an extensive military career, which included the battle of Gettysburg, and the battle of the Little Bighorn. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his gallantry in leadership at the Battle of Bear Paw. He also participated in the Washita Massacre and Wounded Knee Massacre.
From the Wikipedia article “Myles Moylan”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
