John Nihill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Nihill
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John Nihill
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| Born | May 25, 1850 Nenagh, Ireland |
| Died | May 29, 1908 (aged 58) Whitestone, Long Island, New York, United States |
| Place of burial |
Cypress Hills National Cemetery
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| Years of service | 1868–c. 1895 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Unit | 5th U.S. Cavalry |
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John Nihill (born May 25, 1850 – died May 29, 1908) was a brave soldier from Ireland. He served in the United States Army with the 5th U.S. Cavalry. John Nihill was part of the Indian Wars, including the Apache Wars.
He received the Medal of Honor, a very special award for bravery. He earned it by fighting off four Apache warriors by himself. This happened in the Whetstone Mountains of Arizona in 1872. John Nihill was also known as one of the best shooters in the U.S. military.
Contents
John Nihill's Life and Military Service
Early Life and Joining the Army
John Nihill was born in Nenagh, Ireland, on May 25, 1850. When he was young, he left home and traveled to the United States. He arrived in Brooklyn, New York.
On November 10, 1868, he joined the U.S. Army. He was assigned to the 5th U.S. Cavalry. For the next 15 years, he served with this group. He fought in the Indian Wars across the American frontier.
Fighting in the Indian Wars
John Nihill served under important officers like William H. Emory and Wesley Merritt. He took part in many campaigns. In 1869, he was with William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody during the Republican River expedition. He also saw action at the Battle of Summit Springs.
He fought in battles in Kansas and Nebraska. Later, his cavalry unit moved to the Arizona Territory in 1871. There, the 5th Cavalry fought against the Apache for four years. During this time, he became good friends with William Cody and Captain Jack Crawford.
Bravery at Whetstone Mountains
On July 13, 1872, John Nihill was part of a small group of eight soldiers. They were sent to stop an Apache group that had stolen cattle. The soldiers followed the Apache for 15 miles into a canyon. They expected to find about 12 Apache warriors, but instead, they found around 80.
The Apache warriors attacked the soldiers. They also pushed large rocks down from cliffs, hurting some soldiers and horses. The soldiers were greatly outnumbered and had to retreat. John Nihill was busy fighting another Apache and got separated from his group.
While trying to get back, he helped two wounded soldiers, Private Michael Glynn and First Sergeant Henry Newman. He bravely held off the Apache warriors so the wounded men could get to safety.
A Daring Escape
According to a newspaper story from 1895, Nihill found Private Glynn, whose horse had been killed. Glynn was also shot in both shoulders. John Nihill put Glynn on his own horse and told him to go to a nearby forest. Nihill promised to hold off the Apache and meet Glynn there if he survived.
After Glynn rode off, Nihill followed on foot. A small group of Apache warriors soon spotted him. Nihill took cover behind a large rock. He fought them off, killing each Apache who came close. When he ran out of bullets, he pretended to reload his gun to keep the others away.
He didn't know how many Apache he was facing until they finally left. Nihill then went to the forest and found Glynn waiting. Glynn was too weak to sit on the horse. So, Nihill strapped him to the horse and rode back to Camp Crittenden. This was almost 50 miles away.
Receiving the Medal of Honor
His commanding officer, Colonel Westley Merritt, recommended John Nihill for the Medal of Honor. He received this high honor on December 4, 1874. Private Glynn and Sergeant Newman also received the Medal of Honor. John Nihill later received a special certificate from the Secretary of War. He continued to fight in other battles against the Apache.
A Top Marksman
In the 1880s, John Nihill became an amazing shooter. He was known as one of the best "crack shots" in the U.S. military. In 1882, he won a spot on a special rifle team and a medal. This was the first shooting medal ever given to someone from the 5th U.S. Cavalry.
He won many shooting awards over the next few years. He won so many medals that the army eventually stopped him from accepting more awards. He was still allowed to compete, but he couldn't take home any more prizes.
In 1885, he joined President Chester A. Arthur's trip to Yellowstone National Park. Nihill went along as a hunter, making sure the group had fresh meat. He was recognized as a distinguished marksman in 1887. In 1888, he won a spot on the Army Team, beating the previous winner by 17 points.
Later Military Service and Retirement
After four years at Fort Wadsworth, he moved to the 4th U.S. Cavalry. When his enlistment ended in 1888, he joined the Battalion of Engineers in Washington, DC. He kept competing in shooting contests. He often hit the bullseye perfectly from far away. In one contest in 1894, he hit 19 bullseyes in a row.
In March 1895, a story about John Nihill's life was in The New York Times. This story was also printed in his home country of Ireland. His parents read it, and it was the first time they had heard from him in almost 30 years. His mother wrote a letter to the newspaper, which was sent to John Nihill.
After retiring from the military, John Nihill returned to New York. He lived in Whitestone, Long Island. He passed away on May 29, 1908, just four days after his 58th birthday. He was buried with full military honors at Cypress Hills National Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.
See also
