Medal of Honor Recipient
Co. I, 5th US Infantry.
20 Years Service, 1873-1893.
Native of Iowa, enlisted at Fort Leavenworth, KS.
Born: ca. 1850 Burlington, IA – Died 10 Jul 1895 in Baltimore, MD
John Knox was a member of Co. I, 5th US Infantry, serving 20 years before his retirement on 22 Jun 1893. At the time of his death, he was an inmate at the Washington DC soldiers home, but was visiting in Baltimore when he decided to end his life for reasons unknown.
Medal of Honor Citation
Date of Award: 23 Apr 1875
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Sergeant John W. Knox, United States Army, for gallantry in action on 9 September 1874, while serving with Company I, 5th U.S. Infantry, in action at Upper Washita River, Texas.
Battle of the Upper Washita
Also known as the battle of Lyman’s Wagon Train, the battle was a five-day engagement in Sep of 1874 between Capt. Wyllys Lyman’s wagon train on a return trip to resupply to Col. Nelson Miles’ command and forces of combined Commanche and Kiowa tribes. The engagement was the longest and one of the most publicized of the Red River War.
