Denis Byrne (Medal of Honor)

Denis Byrne (1833 – December 31, 1905) was an Irish-born soldier in the U.S. Army who served with the 5th U.S. Infantry during the Indian Wars. He was among the 31 soldiers who received the Medal of Honor for during General Nelson A. Miles "winter campaign" against the Sioux Indians in the Montana Territory between October 1876 and January 1877.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

For the Kilkenny hurling player, see Denis Byrne.
Denis Byrne
Born1833
Wexford, Ireland
DiedDecember 31, 1905(1905-12-31) (aged 72)
Bird Island, Minnesota, United States
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branchUnited States Army
Years of servicec. 1876–c. 1878
RankSergeant
Unit5th U.S. Infantry
Battles/warsIndian Wars
AwardsMedal of Honor

Biography

Born in Wexford, Ireland in 1833, Denis Byrne emigrated to the United States where he settled in New York City. He eventually enlisted in the U.S. Army and was sent to the frontier to serve with 5th U.S. Infantry. By the start of General Nelson A. Miles "winter campaign" against the Sioux Indians in the Montana Territory, Byrne had become a veteran Indian fighter and reached the rank of sergeant. Between October 1876 and January 1877, he participated in many battles against the Sioux, most notably, against Chief Sitting Bull at Cedar Creek. He and 31 other soldiers were received the Medal of Honor for "gallantry in engagements" with the Sioux at Cedar Creek and other actions.[1][2][3][4][5][6] He died at Bird Island, Minnesota on December 31, 1905, at age 72.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company G, 5th U.S. Infantry. Place and date: At Cedar Creek, etc., Mont., October 1876 to January 1877. Entered service at:------. Birth: Ireland. Date of issue. April 27, 1877.

Citation:

Gallantry in engagements.[7]

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See also

References
  1. Beyer, Walter F. and Oscar Frederick Keydel, ed. Deeds of Valor: From Records in the Archives of the United States Government; how American Heroes Won the Medal of Honor; History of Our Recent Wars and Explorations, from Personal Reminiscences and Records of Officers and Enlisted Men who Were Rewarded by Congress for Most Conspicuous Acts of Bravery on the Battle-field, on the High Seas and in Arctic Explorations. Vol. 2. Detroit: Perrien-Keydel Company, 1906. (pg. 233)
  2. Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs. Medal of Honor recipients, 1863-1978, 96th Cong., 1st sess. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, 1979. (pg. 1012)
  3. Hannings, Bud. A Portrait of the Stars and Stripes. Glenside, Pennsylvania: Seniram Publishing, 1988. (pg. 296) ISBN 0-922564-00-0
  4. O'Neal, Bill. Fighting Men of the Indian Wars: A Biographical Encyclopedia of the Mountain Men, Soldiers, Cowboys, and Pioneers Who Took Up Arms During America's Westward Expansion. Stillwater, Oklahoma: Barbed Wire Press, 1991. (pg. 31) ISBN 0-935269-07-X
  5. Sterner, C. Douglas (1999). "MOH Citation for Denis Byrne". MOH Recipients: Indian Campaigns. HomeofHeroes.com. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  6. Army Times Publishing Company. "Military Times Hall of Valor: Denis Byrne". Awards and Citations: Medal of Honor. MilitaryTimes.com. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  7. "Medal of Honor recipients". Indian War Campaigns. United States Army Center of Military History. June 8, 2009. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
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