b. 1836 Brighton, England. d. 14/12/1905 Brighton, England.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 25/06/1876 Little Big Horn, Montana.
Indian Wars Medal of Honor Recipient. He was born in England; some sources give the town of his birth as London, others as Brighton, and the year, too, is uncertain. At some point, he emigrated to Boston and, in 1864, he enlisted in the Massachusetts Volunteers, giving his age as 23, although he was, probably, older than that. After the Civil War ended, he re-enlisted in the Infantry. In 1876, he became a Corporal in the U.S. Cavalry. On October 5th. 1878, he was awarded the Medal of Honor, his citation reading that, on the 25th. June 1876 at the Battle of the Little Big Horn, he had “brought up ammunition under a galling fire from the enemy.” The medal was presented on April 10th. 1879, at a dress parade at Fort McHenry. In 1882, however, he had to leave the services, following a compound fracture of the right tibia caused by a kick from a horse. He returned to Brighton where, in 1894, his first wife, Eleanor, died. Later that year, he married a widow named Frances Little, who had two children from her previous marriage. Holden died at a reported age of 69, and was buried on December 19th. 1905. His wife lived until 1938.
MOH CITATION:
Brought up ammunition under a galling fire from the enemy.
BURIAL LOCATION: BRIGHTON & PRESTON CEMETERY, BRIGHTON, SUSSEX, ENGLAND.
GRAVE U, LOT 25.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: FREEDOMS FOUNDATION, VALLEY FORGE, PENNSYLVANIA.
