Powhatan Henry Clarke MOH

b. 09/10/1862 Alexandria, Louisiana. d. 21/07/1893 Fort Custer, Montana.

DATE OF MOH ACTION: 03/05/1886 Sonora, Mexico.

Powhatan H Clarke MOH

Clarke was born at Alexandria, Louisiana on October 9, 1862. He was the grandson of U.S. federal judge Henry Boyce and Irene Archinard, and the son of Louise Frances Boyce and Dr. (Professor) Powhatan Clarke. He partly studied in France. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1884.

Clarke was a Second Lieutenant in the 10th Cavalry Regiment of the Buffalo Soldiers at Fort Davis, Texas. On May 3, 1886, he rescued one of his wounded soldiers, Corporal Edward Scott, who was under heavy fire from Apaches at Pinito Mountains, Sonora. He received a Medal of Honor for this action. He was the commander of Apache Scouts until 1891. In 1891, he became First Lieutenant and he was transferred to the 9th Cavalry Regiment. He was back with the 10th Cavalry by early 1892. In 1891–92 he was an observer, stationed at Düsseldorf, with a Westphalian Hussar Regiment. The discipline of the German Army greatly impressed him. From 1892 until his death in 1893, he lived in Fort Custer, Montana. In 1892 he married Elizabeth Clemens of St. Louis, Missouri; they had one son. He drowned in the Little Bighorn River on July 21, 1893, and was buried at Calvary Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri.

 

MOH CITATION:

Rushed forward to the rescue of a soldier who was severely wounded and lay, disabled, exposed to the enemy’s fire, and carried him to a place of safety.

 

BURIAL LOCATION: CALVARY CEMETERY, ST LOUIS, MISSOURI.

SECTION 3, LOT 34, GRAVE 15

LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.