Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Sergeant Robert McPhelan received the Medal of Honor for his actions on October 21, 1876 at Cedar Creek, etc., Montana during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with Company E, 5th U.S. Infantry. McPhelan was about 39 years old.
29 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on July 18, 1877 — at parade at the Cantonment at the Yellowstone and Tongue Rivers, Montana Territory, by Gen. William T. Sherman.
McPhelan was born in 1837 in County Laois, Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York, New York. McPhelan died on February 1, 1884 in Leavenworth, Kansas, at the age of about 47. He is buried at Leavenworth National Cemetery in Lansing, Kansas.
McPhelan 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
Gallantry in action.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Timeline
- 1837Born in County Laois, Ireland
- October 21, 1876Act of valor — Cedar Creek, etc., MontanaAge about 39. Company E, 5th U.S. Infantry
- July 18, 1877Medal of Honor presentedAt parade at the Cantonment at the Yellowstone and Tongue Rivers, Montana Territory, by Gen. William T. Sherman
- February 1, 1884Died in Leavenworth, KansasAge about 47.
- Resting placeLeavenworth National CemeteryLansing, Kansas
Further reading
- Reinterment raises decorated serviceman's rites with honorsatchisonglobenow.com · 2021
- From Potter's Field to National Cemetery, a Medal of Honor Recipient Is Laid to Restmilitary.com · 2021
