Richard Barrett facts for kids

Richard Barrett
Born	1838 County Mayo, Ireland
Died	March 20, 1898(1898-03-20) (aged 60) Washington, D.C., United States
Place of burial	US Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	c. 1872–c. 1875
Rank	First Sergeant
Unit	1st U.S. Cavalry
Battles/wars	Indian Wars
Awards	Medal of Honor

First Sergeant Richard Barrett (1838 – March 20, 1898) was an Irish-born American officer in the U.S. Army. He served with the 1st U.S. Cavalry Regiment during the Indian Wars. He received the Medal of Honor during the Apache Wars. He voluntarily led a group of troops against a group of hostile Tonto Apaches at Sycamore Canyon on May 23, 1872.

Biography

Richard Barrett was born in County Mayo, Ireland in 1838. He eventually moved to the United States and settled in Buffalo, New York. It was there that Barrett enlisted in the United States Army and was assigned to Company A of the 1st U.S. Cavalry Regiment. By 1872, he had risen to the rank of first sergeant. On May 23 of that year, while posted to the Arizona Territory, Barrett volunteered to lead a group of soldiers against a group of renegade Tonto Apaches at Sycamore Canyon. He was cited for "conspicuous gallantry" and recommended for the Medal of Honor for his actions which he received on April 12, 1875. Barrett moved to Washington, D.C. after his retirement from military service. He died there on March 20, 1898, at the age of 60. He was interred at the United States Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: First Sergeant, Company A, 1st U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Sycamore Canyon, Ariz., 23 May 1872. Entered service at: --. Birth: Ireland. Date of issue: 12 April 1875.

Citation:

Consplcuous gallantry in a charge upon the Tonto Apaches.