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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Second Lieutenant · U.S. Army

Robert Goldthwaite Carter

Second Lieutenant Robert Goldthwaite Carter, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on October 10, 1871 at Brazos River, Texas during the Indian Campaigns.

Indian Campaigns October 10, 1871

Second Lieutenant Robert Goldthwaite Carter was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on October 10, 1871 at Brazos River, Texas during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with 4th U.S. Cavalry. Carter was 25 years old.

The medal was presented on February 27, 1900, 28 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Brevet Captain.

Carter was born on October 29, 1845 in Bridgton, Cumberland County, Maine. His Medal of Honor is credited to Bradford, Essex County, Massachusetts. Carter died on January 4, 1936 in Walter Reed Hospital, Washington, at the age of 90. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

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

★ Rescue & Lifesaving

Official Medal of Honor citation

Held the left of the line with a few men during the charge of a large body of Indians, after the right of the line had retreated, and by delivering a rapid fire, succeeded in checking the enemy until other troops came to the rescue.

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

Battles and campaigns

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

Life beyond the battlefield

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: Bridgton — map
  • Died: Washington, D.C. — map
  • Buried: Arlington National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →

Timeline

  1. October 29, 1845
    Born in Bridgton, Cumberland County, Maine
  2. October 10, 1871
    Act of valor — Brazos River, Texas
    Age 25. 4th U.S. Cavalry
  3. February 27, 1900
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. January 4, 1936
    Died in Walter Reed Hospital, Washington
    Age 90.
  5. Resting place
    Arlington National Cemetery
    Arlington, Virginia

Biography

Robert Goldthwaite Carter (October 29, 1845 – January 4, 1936) was a US Cavalry officer who participated in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars, most notably against the Comanche during which he received the Medal of Honor for his role against a Comanche raiding party at Brazos River in Texas on October 10, 1871. He became a successful author in his later years, writing several books based on his military career, including On the Border with Mackenzie (1935), as well as a series of booklets detailing his years as an Indian fighter on the Texas frontier.

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

Same unit

Matthew Arlington Batson First Lieutenant · Army Philippine Insurrection · 1899 JH Joseph S. Hedges First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864 Hugh Jocelyn McGrath Captain · Army Philippine Insurrection · 1899 ✦ LW Lewis Warrington First Lieutenant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874 WW Wilber Elliott Wilder First Lieutenant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1882

More Indian Campaigns recipients from Massachusetts

JW James Ward Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1890 JM John Moriarity Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns WW William Winterbottom Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1870 GM Gregory Mahoney Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874 JB James E. Bailey Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1872 John Sterling Lawton Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1879
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.