Mosheim Feaster
Encyclopedia
First Lieutenant Mosheim Feaster (May 27, 1867 – March 18, 1950) was an American
soldier in the U.S. Army
who served with the 7th U.S. Cavalry during the Indian Wars
. He was one of twenty-four men received the Medal of Honor
for gallantry at what was then called the Battle of Wounded Knee, but now commonly called the Wounded Knee Massacre
on December 29, 1890.
on May 27, 1867. As a young man, he traveled to Cleveland, Ohio
where he enlisted in the U.S. Army and became a member of Company E in the 7th U.S. Cavalry. Assigned to frontier duty in the Dakota Territory
, Feaster took part in campaigns against the Sioux
during the late-1880s. His unit was ordered to bring in the Sioux chief Big Foot, on the morning of December 29, 1890, they surrounded his camp on the banks of Wounded Knee Creek
. Although intending to place Big Foot under arrest and disarm his followers, fighting broke out resulting in the Wounded Knee Massacre
. Feaster was cited for "extraordinary gallantry" during the battle by advancing to an exposed position and holding it under heavy fire. He was one of twenty-four soldiers who received the Medal of Honor
for his actions. After leaving the military at the rank of first lieutenant, Feaster moved to San Bruno, California
where he died on March 18, 1950, at the age of 82. He was interred at the Golden Gate National Cemetery
.
Citation:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soldier in the U.S. Army
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...
who served with the 7th U.S. Cavalry during the Indian Wars
Indian Wars
American Indian Wars is the name used in the United States to describe a series of conflicts between American settlers or the federal government and the native peoples of North America before and after the American Revolutionary War. The wars resulted from the arrival of European colonizers who...
. He was one of twenty-four men 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...
for gallantry at what was then called the Battle of Wounded Knee, but now commonly called the Wounded Knee Massacre
Wounded Knee Massacre
The Wounded Knee Massacre happened on December 29, 1890, near Wounded Knee Creek on the Lakota Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, USA. On the day before, a detachment of the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment commanded by Major Samuel M...
on December 29, 1890.
Biography
Mosheim Feaster was born in Schellsburg, PennsylvaniaSchellsburg, Pennsylvania
Schellsburg is a borough in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 316 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Schellsburg is located at...
on May 27, 1867. As a young man, he traveled to Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
where he enlisted in the U.S. Army and became a member of Company E in the 7th U.S. Cavalry. Assigned to frontier duty in the Dakota Territory
Dakota Territory
The Territory of Dakota was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1861, until November 2, 1889, when the final extent of the reduced territory was split and admitted to the Union as the states of North and South Dakota.The Dakota Territory consisted of...
, Feaster took part in campaigns against the Sioux
Sioux
The Sioux are Native American and First Nations people in North America. The term can refer to any ethnic group within the Great Sioux Nation or any of the nation's many language dialects...
during the late-1880s. His unit was ordered to bring in the Sioux chief Big Foot, on the morning of December 29, 1890, they surrounded his camp on the banks of Wounded Knee Creek
Wounded Knee Creek
Wounded Knee Creek is a tributary of the White River, approximately long, in southwestern South Dakota in the United States. Its Lakota name is '....
. Although intending to place Big Foot under arrest and disarm his followers, fighting broke out resulting in the Wounded Knee Massacre
Wounded Knee Massacre
The Wounded Knee Massacre happened on December 29, 1890, near Wounded Knee Creek on the Lakota Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, USA. On the day before, a detachment of the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment commanded by Major Samuel M...
. Feaster was cited for "extraordinary gallantry" during the battle by advancing to an exposed position and holding it under heavy fire. He was one of twenty-four soldiers who 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...
for his actions. After leaving the military at the rank of first lieutenant, Feaster moved to San Bruno, California
San Bruno, California
San Bruno is a city in San Mateo County, California, United States. The population was 41,114 at the 2010 census.The city is adjacent to San Francisco International Airport and Golden Gate National Cemetery.-Geography:San Bruno is located at...
where he died on March 18, 1950, at the age of 82. He was interred at the Golden Gate National Cemetery
Golden Gate National Cemetery
Golden Gate National Cemetery is a U.S. National Cemetery, located in the city of San Bruno, San Mateo County, 12 miles south of San Francisco. Because of the name and location, it is frequently confused with San Francisco National Cemetery, which dates to the 19th century and is in the Presidio...
.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Private, Company E, 7th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Wounded Knee Creek, S. Dak., 29 December 1890. Entered service at: Schellburg, Pa. Birth: Schellburg, Pa. Date of issue: 23 June 1891.Citation:
Extraordinary gallantry.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Indian Wars
Further reading
- Konstantin, Phil. This Day in North American Indian History: Important Dates in the History of North America's Native Peoples for Every Calendar Day. New York: Da Capo Press, 2002. ISBN 0-306-81170-7