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.
References
Further reading
Konstantin, Phil. This Day in North American Indian History: Important Dates in the History of North America's Native Peoples for Every Calendar Day. New York: Da Capo Press, 2002.
Other websites
1838 births
1898 deaths
United States Army Medal of Honor recipients
People from New York (state)