John Nihill

Fighting past four opponents to rejoin his fellow cavalrymen

John Nihill was born on 25 May 1850 in Nenagh, County Tipperary, Ireland. He emigrated to the United States and entered the Army from Brooklyn, New York, in November 1868. He became a cavalry soldier with Company F, 5th U.S. Cavalry, serving during the Indian Wars on the western frontier.

On 13 July 1872, Nihill was serving as a private in the Whetstone Mountains of Arizona Territory. During an engagement with Apache fighters, he fought and defeated four opponents positioned between him and his comrades. Other soldiers of his company covered the withdrawal of wounded men during the same engagement.

Nihill received the Medal of Honor on 4 December 1874. The Army also recognized his gallantry in the Whetstone Mountains with a Certificate of Merit. He continued his military career and attained the rank of sergeant.

Nihill became an accomplished competitive marksman and won several Army shooting awards. His later service included artillery and engineer assignments. After retiring from the Army, he lived in Whitestone, Long Island. He died on 29 May 1908, four days after his fifty-eighth birthday, and was buried at Cypress Hills National Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.

Medal of Honor citation

Fought and defeated four hostile Apaches located between him and his comrades.