First Lieutenant Robert McDonald was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on January 8, 1877 at Wolf Mountain, Montana during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with 5th U.S. Infantry. McDonald was 54 years old.
3 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 Captain.
McDonald was born on May 12, 1822 in Erie County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to Newport, Campbell County, Kentucky. McDonald died on May 21, 1901 in San Francisco, California, at the age of 79. He is buried at Lone Tree Cemetery in Hayward, California.
McDonald is one of 426 Medal of Honor recipients from the Indian Campaigns and one of 44 credited to Kentucky.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Led his command in a successful charge against superior numbers of hostile Indians, strongly posted.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Timeline
- May 12, 1822Born in Erie County, New York
- January 8, 1877Act of valor — Wolf Mountain, MontanaAge 54. 5th U.S. Infantry
- November 27, 1894Medal of Honor presented
- May 21, 1901Died in San Francisco, CaliforniaAge 79.
- Resting placeLone Tree CemeteryHayward, California
