Abraham Kerns Arnold

Abraham Kerns Arnold was born on 24 March 1837 at Bedford, Pennsylvania. He entered the United States Military Academy in 1854 and graduated in 1859. Before the Civil War he trained at Carlisle and served on the Texas frontier with the 2nd Cavalry, which became the 5th Cavalry in 1861. [1,2]

Arnold was severely wounded at Gaines' Mill in June 1862 and later commanded the 5th Cavalry in Virginia. According to the Army's Medal of Honor citation record, his award action took place at Davenport Bridge on 10 May 1864. Serving as a captain, he led a charge against a larger Confederate force and brought his command out of a dangerous position. This is a summary of the citation. The medal was issued on 1 September 1893. [1,2]

His subsequent career extended well beyond the Civil War. He taught cavalry at West Point, administered a Freedmen's Bureau disbursing office in New Orleans, and held western cavalry commands. Promoted to colonel in 1891, he became a brigadier general of U.S. Volunteers in May 1898 during the Spanish-American War. After commands in the United States, he led a division in Cuba in early 1899, then returned to regular Army duty. [2]

After retirement Arnold lived at Cold Spring, New York, where he died on 23 November 1901, aged 64. He was buried in St. Philip's Church Cemetery at Garrison, New York. [2,3]

Sources: [1] U.S. Army, Civil War Medal of Honor citations, “Arnold, Abraham K.”: https://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/citations1.html [2] Cullum's Biographical Register, no. 1845, and supplements: https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/America/United_States/Army/USMA/Cullums_Register/1845%2A.html [3] Congressional Medal of Honor Society: https://www.cmohs.org/recipients/abraham-k-arnold