A little known fact about soldiering at Fort Selden is the extreme danger it could present. Five soldiers were awarded the highest honor available to the armed forces, the Congressional Medal of Honor. The action involved a battle against the Apache. These men were members of the 8th Cavalry Company C. The engagement took place between July 9 – 14, 1873 according to the post report; however the official citation has the battle taking place between July 8 – 11, 1873. The men were:
*Corporal Frank Bratling
*Sargent Leonidas S. Lytle
* First Sargent James L. Morris
* Company Blacksmith John Sheerin
*Private Henry Wills
Little information is known about the action as the actual citation only reads “Services against hostile Indians,” however the post report gives a little more detail. Captain George W. Chilson of Troop C 8th Calvary had this to say in his patrol report from the 17 of July 1873 (taken from Allan J. Holmes book, Fort Selden 1865 – 1891; The Birth, Life, and Death of a Frontier Fort in New Mexico):
Left post with ten mounted men on 9 Jul ultimo chasing Indians who had stolen horses from Shedd’s ranch…. After following them for 4 ½ days… caught them west of Cañada Alamosa. I report the loss of Corporal Frank Brautling (Bratling). Three Indians killed. The stock recovered. Distance covered 350 miles.
Corporal Bratling was the only one of the five to be killed in this battle and therefore the medal was awarded posthumously. It wasn’t until two years later on August 12, 1875 when these five were finally award their Medals’ of Honor.
Over the next couple of months we will highlight each of these men by providing you a little more history and background of their lives.
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