Marcus Robbins
Encyclopedia
Marcus M. Robbins served in the United States Army
during the American Indian Wars. He received the Medal of Honor
.
Robbins was a resident of Elba, Wisconsin
. He was buried in Pittsfield, Massachusetts
.
On April 23, 1875, Robbins and five other soldiers snuck up behind a band of Cheyenne
warriors and attacked them from the rear at Sappa Creek in Kansas
. He received a Medal of Honor for these actions on November 16, 1876. Several other members of his company also received medals for their role in the battle. Richard Longstreet Tea
, Frederick Platten, James Lowthers, Simpson Hornaday, and Peter W. Gardiner made up the rest of the expedition around the Cheyenne lines, and all received the Medal of Honor. Michael Dawson and James F. Ayers
also were a part of the battle, and also were awarded the Medal of Honor. The engagement was part of the Red River War
.
Twentieth-century commentators have questioned the role of the Sixth Cavalry at Sappa Creek, with some calling it a "massacre."
The medal itself was out of possession of Robbins' family for many years, until it was returned to them in 2009.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during the American Indian Wars. He received the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
.
Robbins was a resident of Elba, Wisconsin
Elba, Wisconsin
Elba is a town in Dodge County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,086 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Astico is locared in the town-Geography:...
. He was buried in Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Pittsfield is the largest city and the county seat of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the principal city of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Berkshire County. Its area code is 413. Its ZIP code is 01201...
.
Army service
Robbins served as a private in the Sixth U.S. Cavalry, fighting in the American Indian WarsOn April 23, 1875, Robbins and five other soldiers snuck up behind a band of Cheyenne
Cheyenne
Cheyenne are a Native American people of the Great Plains, who are of the Algonquian language family. The Cheyenne Nation is composed of two united tribes, the Só'taeo'o and the Tsétsêhéstâhese .The Cheyenne are thought to have branched off other tribes of Algonquian stock inhabiting lands...
warriors and attacked them from the rear at Sappa Creek in Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
. He received a Medal of Honor for these actions on November 16, 1876. Several other members of his company also received medals for their role in the battle. Richard Longstreet Tea
Richard Longstreet Tea
Richard Longstreet Tea was an American Civil War hero who received the Medal of Honor for heroism on April 23, 1875 during the Indian Wars...
, Frederick Platten, James Lowthers, Simpson Hornaday, and Peter W. Gardiner made up the rest of the expedition around the Cheyenne lines, and all received the Medal of Honor. Michael Dawson and James F. Ayers
James F. Ayers
James F. Ayers was an American soldier in the U.S. Army who served with the 6th U.S. Cavalry during the Indian Wars. He was a participant in the Red River War and one of several men received the Medal of Honor for bravery fighting Indians at Sappa Creek, Kansas on April 23, 1875.-Biography:James...
also were a part of the battle, and also were awarded the Medal of Honor. The engagement was part of the Red River War
Red River War
The Red River War was a military campaign launched by the United States Army in 1874, as part of the Comanche War, to remove the Comanche, Kiowa, Southern Cheyenne, and Arapaho Native American tribes from the Southern Plains and forcibly relocate them to reservations in Indian Territory...
.
Twentieth-century commentators have questioned the role of the Sixth Cavalry at Sappa Creek, with some calling it a "massacre."
Medal of Honor
His award citation reads:- With 5 other men he waded in mud and water up the creek to a position directly behind an entrenched Cheyenne position, who were using natural bank pits to good advantage against the main column. This surprise attack from the enemy rear broke their resistance.
The medal itself was out of possession of Robbins' family for many years, until it was returned to them in 2009.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients
- List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Indian Wars