Lot 138

Description

Bronze embossed five-pointed star (Army, first model) with one point facing downwards, bearing the engraver's signature "Paquet F.". The eagle riband buckle fastened with rings and the suspension bar with safety pin, both also embossed in bronze. On the original, slightly soiled ribbon. The reverse featuring the dedication "The Congress to Sgt. George Geiger Co. H. 7th U.S. Cav. for Gallantry at Little Big Horn, Mont. June 25 1876". Width 53.3 mm. Total weight 30.97 g. Introduced as the highest decoration for valour by President Abraham Lincoln in 1861 during the American Civil War, the Medal of Honor has been awarded to approximately 3,500 soldiers to date. Sgt. George Geiger, born circa 1843 in Cincinnati, enlisted in the 47th Ohio Infantry, Comp. A in 1861. He was taken prisoner in the American Civil War near Atlanta and detained for two months in the notorious Andersonville Prison. Following his release in 1865, he served with the 7th U.S. Cavalry, Comp. M from 1867, re-enlisted with the 7th Cavalry just a few days after being discharged on 29 November 1872 in Unionville, SC, in Louisville, KY, and was assigned to Comp. H. At the Battle of Little Big Horn, Geiger was awarded the MoH for his bravery on 25 June 1876 in occupying an exposed position for four hours outside their own line of defence, together with Private Windolph, blacksmith Mechlin and saddler Voit. They feigned an attack that allowed 15 other men to make their way unnoticed to the river to fetch the water that was urgently needed, especially for their wounded comrades. Neither Geiger, nor his three companions, nor any of their 15 comrades were killed. In the Battle of Little Big Horn in the summer of 1876, five companies of the 7th US Cavalry were besieged and partly annihilated by warriors of the Lakota and Dakota Sioux, the Arapho and the Cheyenne. Of the total of about 650 US soldiers and scouts, 268 were killed, including George A. Custer along with his brothers Thomas and Boston, 55 more soldiers were wounded or unaccounted for. On the side of the Indians, who vastly outnumbered them, led by chiefs Sitting Bull, Gall, Two Moons and Crazy Horse, about 40 warriors were killed and 80 more wounded.

Condition: I - II Questions about the lot?