Neil Bancroft
Encyclopedia
Neil Bancroft was an American
soldier in the U.S. Army
who served with the 7th U.S. Cavalry during the Black Hills War
. In 1878, he was one of 22 soldiers who received the Medal of Honor
at the Battle of the Little Bighorn
and who carried water "under a most galling fire" from the Little Bighorn River
to the wounded soldiers on Reno Hill.
Bancroft left military service two months before the men of his regiment were issued the award. His medal was returned to the War Department
because of this and, consequently, he remained unaware that he was an MOH recipient. When it was finally decided to locate him years later, it was found that Bancroft had died.
in 1846. At age 18, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in Chicago, Illinois on September 20, 1873. Sent to the frontier, he was assigned to Troop A of the 7th U.S. Cavalry then under the command of George Armstrong Custer
. He saw action during the Black Hills War
and, during the Battle of the Little Bighorn
in June 1876, he was among the many soldiers who carried water "under a most galling fire" from the Little Bighorn River
to the wounded soldiers at the Reno-Benteen site for much of the engagement. All of the Little Bighorn water carriers were received the Medal of Honor
for their "extraordinary bravery" on October 5, 1878. Bancroft, however, had left the service two months earlier and his medal was simply returned to the War Department
. Throughout his life, Bancroft was unaware that he had received the nation's highest honor. By the time the government tracked down Bancroft to officially issue his medal, it was discovered he had died. His medal was eventually put on display in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C.
where it remains to the present-day.
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 Black Hills War
Great Sioux War of 1876–77
The Great Sioux War of 1876, also known as the Black Hills War, was a series of battles and negotiations which occurred between 1876 and 1877 involving the Lakota and Northern Cheyenne, against the United States...
. In 1878, he was one of 22 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...
at the Battle of the Little Bighorn
Battle of the Little Bighorn
The Battle of the Little Bighorn, also known as Custer's Last Stand and, by the Indians involved, as the Battle of the Greasy Grass, was an armed engagement between combined forces of Lakota, Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho people against the 7th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army...
and who carried water "under a most galling fire" from the Little Bighorn River
Little Bighorn River
The Little Bighorn River is a tributary of the Bighorn River in the United States in the states of Wyoming and Montana. The Battle of the Little Bighorn was fought on its banks in 1876, as well as the Battle of Crow Agency in 1887....
to the wounded soldiers on Reno Hill.
Bancroft left military service two months before the men of his regiment were issued the award. His medal was returned to the War Department
United States Department of War
The United States Department of War, also called the War Department , was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army...
because of this and, consequently, he remained unaware that he was an MOH recipient. When it was finally decided to locate him years later, it was found that Bancroft had died.
Biography
Neil Bancroft was born in Oswego, New YorkOswego, New York
Oswego is a city in Oswego County, New York, United States. The population was 18,142 at the 2010 census. Oswego is located on Lake Ontario in north-central New York and promotes itself as "The Port City of Central New York"...
in 1846. At age 18, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in Chicago, Illinois on September 20, 1873. Sent to the frontier, he was assigned to Troop A of the 7th U.S. Cavalry then under the command of George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer was a United States Army officer and cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. Raised in Michigan and Ohio, Custer was admitted to West Point in 1858, where he graduated last in his class...
. He saw action during the Black Hills War
Great Sioux War of 1876–77
The Great Sioux War of 1876, also known as the Black Hills War, was a series of battles and negotiations which occurred between 1876 and 1877 involving the Lakota and Northern Cheyenne, against the United States...
and, during the Battle of the Little Bighorn
Battle of the Little Bighorn
The Battle of the Little Bighorn, also known as Custer's Last Stand and, by the Indians involved, as the Battle of the Greasy Grass, was an armed engagement between combined forces of Lakota, Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho people against the 7th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army...
in June 1876, he was among the many soldiers who carried water "under a most galling fire" from the Little Bighorn River
Little Bighorn River
The Little Bighorn River is a tributary of the Bighorn River in the United States in the states of Wyoming and Montana. The Battle of the Little Bighorn was fought on its banks in 1876, as well as the Battle of Crow Agency in 1887....
to the wounded soldiers at the Reno-Benteen site for much of the engagement. All of the Little Bighorn water carriers were 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 their "extraordinary bravery" on October 5, 1878. Bancroft, however, had left the service two months earlier and his medal was simply returned to the War Department
United States Department of War
The United States Department of War, also called the War Department , was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army...
. Throughout his life, Bancroft was unaware that he had received the nation's highest honor. By the time the government tracked down Bancroft to officially issue his medal, it was discovered he had died. His medal was eventually put on display in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
where it remains to the present-day.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Private, Company A, 7th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Little Big Horn, Mont., 25 June 1876. Entered service at: Chicago, Ill. Birth: Oswego, N.Y. Date of issue: 5 October 1878.Citation:
Brought water for the wounded under a most galling fire.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Indian Wars