Richard M. Longfellow

Charging across a burning bridge in the Philippines

Richard Moses Longfellow earned the Medal of Honor near San Isidro, Luzon, on May 16, 1899. A private in Company A, 1st North Dakota Volunteer Infantry, he joined 21 other scouts in a charge across a burning bridge under heavy fire during the Philippine-American War.

The scouts attacked a strongly fortified position. The official citation credits their advance with routing an opposing force of 600.

Born in Logan County, Illinois, on June 24, 1867, Longfellow was accredited to Mandan, North Dakota. His Medal of Honor was presented on June 14, 1909. He died in Lewiston, Idaho, on May 17, 1951, and is buried at Normal Hill Cemetery there.

Medal of Honor citation

With 21 other scouts charged across a burning bridge, under heavy fire, and completely routed 600 of the enemy who were entrenched in a strongly fortified position.