Guy Vernor Henry

At Cold Harbor, Colonel Guy Vernor Henry led repeated assaults on Confederate works and had two horses shot from under him. It was only one episode in a career that stretched from the Civil War to the Indian campaigns and Puerto Rico.

Guy Vernor Henry was born March 9, 1839, at Fort Smith, then in Indian Territory. A West Point graduate of 1861, he served in the Civil War and was colonel of the 40th Massachusetts Infantry when he performed the action recognized by the Medal of Honor.

On June 1, 1864, at Cold Harbor, Virginia, Henry led the assaults of his brigade against the enemy works. Two horses were shot from under him during the attack.

Medal of Honor Citation (condensed)

Led the assaults of his brigade upon the enemy's works, where he had two horses shot under him.

Henry remained in the Regular Army after the Civil War. He served in the western Indian campaigns, was badly wounded at the Battle of the Rosebud in 1876, received a general-orders citation for gallantry against hostile Sioux in 1890, and served in Cuba and Puerto Rico during the Spanish-American War. He became military governor of Puerto Rico in December 1898. Henry died in New York City on October 27, 1899, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.