Congressional Medal of Honor Society
Stories of Sacrifice
Indian Campaigns - U.S. Army
Charles Albert Varnum
Details
- Rank: Captain (Highest Rank: Colonel)
- Conflict/Era: Indian Campaigns
- Unit/Command:
Company B,
7th U.S. Cavalry - Military Service Branch: U.S. Army
- Medal of Honor Action Date: December 30, 1890
- Medal of Honor Action Place: White Clay Creek, South Dakota, USA
Citation
While executing an order to withdraw, seeing that a continuance of the movement would expose another troop of his regiment to being cut off and surrounded, he disregarded orders to retire, placed himself in front of his men, led a charge upon the advancing Indians, regained a commanding position that had just been vacated, and thus insured a safe withdrawal of both detachments without further loss.
Additional Details
- Accredited to: Pensacola, Escambia County, Florida
- Awarded Posthumously: No
- Presentation Date & Details: September 22, 1897
- Born: June 21, 1849, Troy, Rensselaer County, NY, United States
- Died: February 26, 1936
- Buried: San Francisco National Cemetery (PM) (OS-3-3A), San Francisco, CA, United States
- Location of Medal: Roswell Museum & Art Center (1896 & 1904 designs), Roswell, NM