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Masonic Cemetery

Born:  January 10, 1850 at Janesville, WI

Entered Service in the US Army from Indianapolis, IN

Earned The Medal of Honor During the Indian Campaigns For heroism July 12, 1870 at Wichita River, TX

Captain C. B. McClelland led a mixed detachment of three officers and 56 men from Fort Richardson on July 6, 1870, to pursue a band of Indians who had captured the mail at Rock Station, sixteen miles from the post. McClelland's force reached the Middle Fork of the Wichita River on July 9, where heavy rain storms forced them to remain in camp until July 12. After breaking camp on that date, and with rain still hampering their progress, the sixty cavalrymen encountered the hostile force of 250 Indians near noon, at which time the soldiers were overwhelmed and forced to take cover. Despite being heavily outnumbered, and with two soldiers killed and the surgeon and ten other cavalrymen wounded, Captain McClelland's men fought valiantly until late in the afternoon when the hostile force gave up hope of defeating the soldiers and withdrew. Bugler Claron Windus was one of thirteen men of the 6th Cavalry cited for "Gallantry in action" and awarded the Medal of Honor for this desperate defense against a vastly numerically superior enemy force.