Years of service 1874 - 1901 Awards Medal of Honor | Name William Bryan Rank Captain | |
Battles/wars Indian Wars
Battle of Powder River Spouse(s) Lucy B. Wetzel (1873 - 1945) Died March 27, 1933, Santa Monica, California, United States Battles and wars Battle of Powder River, American Indian Wars | ||
Service/branch United States Army Allegiance United States of America | ||
William C. Bryan, (1852-1933) was a United States Army officer that received the Medal of Honor. His award came for gallantry during the American Indian Wars.
Contents
Biography
William C. Bryan, was born on September 9, 1852, in Zanesville, Ohio. He enlisted into the United States Army at St. Louis, Missouri, United States, and was made a Hospital Steward, in the Medical Company of the Department of the Platte under Assistant Surgeon Curtis E. Munn. The Department of the Platte was commanded by Brigadier General George R. Crook.
Bryan accompanied the Big Horn Expedition in March 1876, and on March 17, was attached to Company K, of the 2nd United States Cavalry Regiment during Battle of Powder River, when the troop was ordered by Colonel Joseph J. Reynolds, to charge a Cheyenne encampment. In the charge on the village of Indians, Bryan's horse was killed under him. Bryan continued to fight on foot, and carried two wounded soldiers to safety, inevitably saving them from capture. Bryan fought in the engagement, and was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions there.
William was later promoted to the rank of captain and retired from the Army in 1901.
He married Lucy B. Wetzel (1873-1945), and died on March 27, 1933, in Santa Monica, California. Bryan was cremated in Inglewood Park Cemetery, Los Angeles, California, and his ashes were buried in Fairmount Cemetery in Denver, Colorado.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Hospital Steward, Medical Company. Place and date: At Powder River, Montana, March 17, 1876. Entered service at: St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Born: September 9, 1852, Zanesville, Ohio. Date of issue: June 15, 1899.
Citation:
"Hospital Steward Bryan accompanied a detachment of cavalry in a charge on a village of hostile Indians and fought through the engagements, having his horse killed under him. He continued to fight on foot, and under severe fire and without assistance conveyed two wounded comrades to places of safety, saving them from capture."