Abraham Arnold

Abraham Kerns Arnold (March 24, 1837 – November 3, 1901) was a U.S. Cavalry officer during the American Civil War and, while a captain in the 5th U.S. Cavalry, received the Medal of Honor for leading "a gallant charge against a superior force of the enemy, extricated his command from a perilous position in which it had been ordered" against Confederate forces at Davenport Bridge, Virginia, on May 10, 1864.

Abraham Kerns Arnold
Abraham Arnold
Born(1837-03-24)March 24, 1837
Bedford, Pennsylvania
DiedNovember 3, 1901(1901-11-03) (aged 64)
Cold Spring-On-Hudson, New York
Place of burial
Cemetery of Saint Philip's Church
Garrison, New York
AllegianceUnited States of America
Union
Service/branchUnited States Army
Union Army
Years of service1859–1901
Rank Brigadier General
Unit5th U.S. Cavalry
Commands held1st U.S. Cavalry
8th U.S. Cavalry
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

Indian Wars

Spanish–American War
AwardsMedal of Honor

He is the father of Colonel Percy Weir Arnold, a cavalry officer serving during the Spanish–American War, the Philippine–American War and the First World War.

Early life and education

Born in Bedford, Pennsylvania, Arnold entered West Point and graduated with the class of 1859 as a brevet Second Lieutenant in the 2nd Cavalry Regiment.[1]

Career

Participating in campaigns against the Comanche while stationed in Fort Inge, Arnold held a distinguished service record during the American Civil War. Promoted to first lieutenant in April 1861, he served as adjutant of the 5th Cavalry Regiment. He was cited "for gallant and meritorious services" at Gaines' Mill and Todds Tavern, brevetted to captain and major after both engagements respectively. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Davenport Bridge leading his regiment in a cavalry charge against superior Confederate forces to rescue men under his command and preventing their capture.[2]

In June 1869, he was promoted to full major of the 6th U.S. Cavalry. By early 1879, he was directing operations against the Apaches in southeastern Arizona, accompanying an expedition into Mexico later that year in pursuit of renegade Apaches to Lake Guzman. As acting assistant adjutant general to General Orlando B. Willcox, Arnold would also take part in the Battle of Cibecue Creek on August 30, 1881. As a lieutenant colonel in 1886, he would also fight in the expedition against the Crows of the North Plains the following year. He would hold a number of command posts during the next twelve years, including a term as commander of the Cavalry and Light Artillery School (1895-1898), and was promoted to colonel in 1891.

During the Spanish–American War, he accepted a field commission as brigadier general of volunteers and led 2nd U.S. Division of the 7th Army Corps in Cuba from January 16, 1898, until April 1, 1899.[3][1]

Death and legacy

He retired on March 25, 1901, and died several months later in Cold Spring-On-Hudson, New York, on November 3, 1901. His grave can be found in the Cemetery of Saint Philip's Church Garrison, New York.

Bibliography
  • Notes on Horses for Cavalry Service (1869)
  • A System of Exercises and Gymnastics for Use in School of Soldier Mounted (1887)
  • The Cavalry at Gaines' Mill (1889)
  • Special Report on Combined Manoeuvers at the Cavalry and Light Artillery (1896)

See also

References
  1. Marquis Who's Who, Inc. Who Was Who in American History, the Military. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who, 1975. P. 15 ISBN 0837932017 OCLC 657162692
  2. "Valor awards for Abraham Kerns Arnold".
  3. "Col. Abraham K. Arnold" (PDF). The New York Times. 1901-11-24. Retrieved 2009-04-11.
  • Appletons' Annual Cyclopædia and Register of Important Events of the Year, 1902. New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1902.
  • The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge. Albany: J.B. Lyon Company, 1918.
  • Gilman, Daniel Coit; Harry Thurston Peck and Frank Moore Colby, ed. The New International Encyclopædia, Vol. II. New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., 1902.
  • Thomas, Joseph. Universal Pronouncing Dictionary of Biography and Mythology, Vol. I – AA to HER. Philadelphia: J.P. Lippencott Company, 1908.
  • Thrapp, Dan L. Encyclopedia of Frontier Biography: In Three Volumes, Volume I (A–F). Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1988. ISBN 0-8032-9418-2
  • "Civil War Medal of Honor recipients (A-L)". Medal of Honor citations. United States Army Center of Military History. August 3, 2009. Archived from the original on 11 July 2010. Retrieved July 1, 2010.

Further reading
  • Price, George F. Across the Continent with the Fifth Cavalry. New York: D. Van Nostrand, 1883.
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