b. 1845 County Tipperary, Ireland. d. ?
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 12/07/1870 Wichita River, Texas.
Indian Wars Medal of Honor Recipient. He served in the United States Army during the Wars with the Plains Indians as a Sergeant in Company H, 6th United States Cavalry. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery in action on July 12, 1870 at the Battle of the Little Wichita River, Texas, with his citation for the award reading simply “Gallantry in action.”
In the action he was part of a force of 57 men from the 6th Cavalry that went in pursuit of 250-strong group of Kiowa Indians led by Chief Kicking Bird. After tracking the Kiowas for five days, the cavalry force met them on the Wichita River in Archer County, Texas. After a short initial fight, the cavalrymen found that they were outnumbered and outgunned, and fought a fierce defensive battle that left 3 United States soldiers and fifteen Kiowas dead. After the Kiowas broke off the engagement in the early evening, the soldiers retreated, eventually making it back to their home base of Fort Richardson near Jacksboro, Texas. Thirteen troopers were awarded the CMOH on August 25, 1870, for their performance and bravery during the battle, Sergeant Kerrigan being one of them. After his discharge from the United States Army, he disappeared into history, and his subsequent life and final disposition remain unknown.
MOH CITATION:
Gallantry in action.
BURIAL LOCATION: UNKNOWN.
IN MEMORY OF MARKER AT FORT CHADBOURNE, BRONTE, TEXAS.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.