b. 1845 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. d. 08/01/1882 Fort Mojave, Arizona.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 27/03/1873 Turret Peak, Arizona.
Allen is believed to have been born in 1845 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, though some sources believe it to be Brightstown, New York. Allen enlisted as a Private into the 29th Pennsylvania Volunteers on August 15, 1864, and served through Sherman’s March to the Sea, until June 7, 1865. In August, 1865, he enlisted in the Regular Army at Lansingburgh, New York and was assigned to the 23rd U.S. Infantry. Eventually reaching the rank of first sergeant, he was part of the Lieutenant Colonel George Crook’s campaign against the Apache during the early 1870s. On March 27, 1873, he took part in a major engagement against the Yavapai Apaches at Turret Peak, Arizona, only 20 miles south of Camp Verde. He, along with Captain George M. Randall, led a successful surprise attack and was awarded the Medal of Honor for “gallantry in action”. He officially received the medal on April 12, 1875, two years after the battle. It is unknown where or by whom the Medal was awarded.
In October, 1873, Allen was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 12th U. S. Infantry, and was promoted to First Lieutenant in December, 1880. He died of “inflammation of the bowel” at Fort Mojave, Arizona on January 8, 1882, although his tombstone places the date exactly ten years later in 1892, for reasons which are unclear.
MOH CITATION:
“Gallantry in action”.
BURIAL LOCATION: SAN FRANCISCO NATIONAL CEMETERY, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.
SECTION OS, ROW 48 GRAVE 2.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
