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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

First Lieutenant · U.S. Army

William Harding Carter

First Lieutenant William Harding Carter, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on August 30, 1881 in Cibicu, Arizona during the Indian Campaigns.

Indian Campaigns August 30, 1881

First Lieutenant William Harding Carter was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on August 30, 1881 in Cibicu, Arizona during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with 6th U.S. Cavalry. Carter was 29 years old.

2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on October 17, 1891, 10 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Major General.

Carter was born on November 19, 1851 in Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York, New York. Carter died on May 24, 1925 in Washington, District of Columbia, at the age of 73. 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 678 credited to New York.

★ Rescue & Lifesaving

Official Medal of Honor citation

Rescued, with the voluntary assistance of two soldiers, the wounded from under a heavy fire.

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

Other decorations and honors

Besides the Medal of Honor, William Harding Carter received:

Distinguished Service Medal

Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: World War I.

Life beyond the battlefield

Source: Wikidata.

Places

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

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. November 19, 1851
    Born in Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee
  2. August 30, 1881
    Act of valor — Cibicu, Arizona
    Age 29. 6th U.S. Cavalry
  3. October 17, 1891
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. May 24, 1925
    Died in Washington, District of Columbia
    Age 73.
  5. Resting place
    Arlington National Cemetery
    Arlington, Virginia

Biography

William Giles Harding Carter (November 19, 1851 – May 24, 1925) was a US Cavalry officer who served during the American Civil War, Spanish–American War and World War I. He also took part in the Indian Wars seeing extensive service against the Apache and Comanche in Arizona being awarded the Medal of Honor against the Apache during the Comanche Campaign on August 30, 1881. A strong advocate of reform in the United States Army during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Carter and Secretary of War Elihu Root are credited with the creation of the U.S.

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

Also honored for actions on August 30, 1881

AB Alonzo Bowman Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1881 RH Richard Heartery Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1881

Same unit

Benjamin Harrison Cheever Jr. First Lieutenant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1891 Thomas Cruse Second Lieutenant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1882 John Thomas Kennedy Second Lieutenant · Army Philippine Insurrection · 1909 John Brown Kerr Captain · Army Indian Campaigns · 1891 Archie Miller First Lieutenant · Army Philippine Insurrection · 1909 Frank West First Lieutenant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1882 Arthur Harrison Wilson Second Lieutenant · Army Philippine Insurrection · 1909

More Indian Campaigns recipients from New York

Theodore Ragnar First Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1890 JS Julius Alexis Schou Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1870 ER Edward Rooney Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 FP Frederick Platten Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1875 WA William Grafton Austin Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1890 CH Charles D. Harris Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1869
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.