George Loyd

George Loyd (1843 – December 17, 1892), whose last name was occasionally spelled "Lloyd," was a United States Army soldier. He fought in the Battle of the Little Big Horn and in the Battle of Wounded Knee, now called the Wounded Knee Massacre, receiving the Medal of Honor for his actions in the latter.

George Loyd
U.S. Army Medal of Honor (1862–1895)
Born	1843 County Tyrone, Ireland
Died	December 17, 1892(1892-12-17) (aged 48–49) Fort Riley, Kansas
Place of burial	Fort Riley, Kansas
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1866 – 1892
Rank	First sergeant
Unit	7th Cavalry Regiment
Battles/wars	Indian Wars Battle of the Little Big Horn Battle of Wounded Knee
Awards	Medal of Honor

Biography

George Loyd was born in County Tyrone, Ireland in 1843. He immigrated to the U.S.

Loyd first enlisted in the U.S. Army (7th Cavalry Regiment on March 17, 1866 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was discharged as a corporal in Canton, Texas when his term of service expired on March 20, 1869.[1] He re-enlisted on March 21, 1869 at Canton in the 6th Cavalry Regiment; he was discharged as a private on March 21, 1874 at Camp Supply, Indian Territory upon the expiration of his term of service.[2]

Loyd's third enlistment was into Company G, 7th Cavalry on April 13, 1874 at St. Louis, Missouri.[3] Loyd was a survivor of the Battle of the Little Big Horn on June 25–26, 1876; he was promoted to corporal on June 25, 1876.[4] He was discharged as a sergeant on April 12, 1879 at Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory when his term of service was completed.[3]

Loyd immediately re-enlisted at Fort Abraham Lincoln and served until his five-year enlistment expired on April 12, 1884 at Fort Totten, Dakota Territory.[5] He re-enlisted on April 15, 1884 at Fort Totten and served until discharged as a sergeant on April 14, 1889 as a sergeant at Fort Riley, Kansas.[6]

"Geo" Loyd re-enlisted on April 15, 1889 at Fort Riley.[7] He was among the cavalrymen ordered to capture Chief Big Foot. On December 29, 1890, troopers surrounded the Sioux camp on Wounded Knee Creek with the intention of arresting the Sioux chieftain and disarming his followers.[8] Loyd, a sergeant on the day of the battle, was commended for bravery, especially after suffering a wound to his lung; On April 16, 1891, Loyd was awarded the Medal of Honor.[9] On December 17, 1892, slightly less than two years after the battle, First Sergeant Loyd, then one of the oldest soldiers at Fort Riley, Kansas, committed suicide and was buried at the Fort Riley post cemetery.[7][10][11]

Medal of Honor Citation

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Sergeant George Lloyd, United States Army, for bravery, especially after having been severely wounded through the lung on 29 December 1890, while serving with Company I, 7th U.S. Cavalry, in action at Wounded Knee Creek, South Dakota.[9]

See also

• List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Indian Wars
• American Indian Wars

References

1. "United States Registers of Enlistments in the U.S. Army, 1798-1914," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJD5-B2TY : 24 May 2014), George Loyd, 17 Mar 1866; citing p. 152, volume 062, Philadelphia, , Pennsylvania, United States, NARA microfilm publication M233 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 31; FHL microfilm 350,337.
2. "United States Registers of Enlistments in the U.S. Army, 1798-1914," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJDR-9WM6 : 24 May 2014), George Loyd, 21 Mar 1869; citing p. 144, volume 069, Canton, , Texas, United States, NARA microfilm publication M233 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 36; FHL microfilm 350,342.
3. "United States Registers of Enlistments in the U.S. Army, 1798-1914," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJDR-SH64 : 24 May 2014), George Loyd, 13 Apr 1874; citing p. 308, volume 074, Saint Louis, , Missouri, United States, NARA microfilm publication M233 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 39; FHL microfilm 350,345.
4. Overfield, Loyd J., ed. (1971). The Little Big Horn, 1876: The Official Communications, Documents and Reports. UNP - Nebraska Paperback. p. 173. ISBN 9780803286016. Retrieved June 24, 2017.
5. "United States Registers of Enlistments in the U.S. Army, 1798-1914," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJDR-QVDY : 24 May 2014), George Loyd, 13 Apr 1879; citing p. 270, volume 080, Fort Abraham Lincoln, , Dakota Territory, United States, NARA microfilm publication M233 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 42; FHL microfilm 350,348.
6. "United States Registers of Enlistments in the U.S. Army, 1798-1914," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJDR-Q22L : 24 May 2014), George Loyd, 15 Apr 1884; citing p. 321, volume 080, Fort Totten, , Dakota Territory, United States, NARA microfilm publication M233 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 42; FHL microfilm 350,348.
7. "United States Registers of Enlistments in the U.S. Army, 1798-1914," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJD5-LW9T : 24 May 2014), Geo Loyd, 15 Apr 1889; citing p. 42, volume 086, Fort Riley, , Kansas, United States, NARA microfilm publication M233 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 45; FHL microfilm 1,319,378.
8. Green, Jerry (1994). "The Medals of Wounded Knee" (PDF). nebraskahistory.org. Nebraska State Historical Society. pp. 200–208. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
9. http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=1027
10. "George Loyd Suicide". The Kinsley Mercury (Kinsley, Kansas). December 29, 1892. p. 4. Retrieved June 24, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
11. George Loyd at Find a Grave