John Chowning Gresham

He led soldiers into a ravine during the Wounded Knee fight.

John Chowning Gresham was born in Virginia on 25 September 1851. He entered the United States Military Academy in 1872 and graduated four years later. After an initial appointment to the 3rd Cavalry, he transferred to the 7th Cavalry and served in the western campaigns, including Canyon Creek during the Nez Perce War of 1877.

Gresham combined field service with teaching. From 1884 to 1887 he instructed military science at Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College. Returning to the regiment, he was a first lieutenant when troops confronted the Lakota at Wounded Knee, South Dakota, on 29 December 1890.

During the fighting, he took a party into a ravine and attempted to dislodge people sheltered there. He was wounded. His official citation commended his conduct in leading this movement, and the Medal of Honor was issued on 26 March 1895. The action formed part of the Wounded Knee massacre, in which United States troops killed large numbers of Lakota men, women and children.

He subsequently taught at the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. In 1898 he returned to troop duty, first in Arizona and then at camps in Alabama and Georgia. He served with the occupation force in Cuba from March 1899 until October 1901. Promoted major in the 6th Cavalry, he then went to the Philippines, where his duties included operations against forces associated with Miguel Malvar in 1902. Another Philippine tour followed in 1905 and 1906.

Gresham became lieutenant colonel of the 14th Cavalry in 1907 and colonel of the 10th Cavalry in 1911. His later commands included Fort Ethan Allen and Fort Huachuca. He retired in September 1915 but remained on active duties, inspecting militia and assisting military training programmes in California and Colorado during the First World War. His final wartime assignment ended in December 1918.

He died in San Diego on 2 September 1926 and was buried in San Francisco National Cemetery.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Voluntarily led a party into a ravine to dislodge Sioux Indians concealed therein. He was wounded during this action.

Congressional Medal of Honor Society, official recipient citation.