The Battle of the Upper Washita River commenced on this day in 1874 when a supply train lead by Cpt. Wyllys Lyman was attacked by Comanches and Kiowas. The battle would last for five days during which a scout was dispatched for relief.
Pvt. Thomas Kelly, Company H, 5th U.S. Infantry, was awarded the Medal of Honor. His citation reads:
Gallantry in action.
Kelly was, predictably, Irish, having been born in May in 1836. He must have been a career soldiers as he was almost 40 years old, and still a private, not unusual for the time. He lived until 1919 and died at age 83, at Leavenworth, Kansas, which was likely his last duty station. He married Rose Kelly at some point.
One of the Wild Geese.
Last edition.
