Henry Wilkens (1855 - August 2, 1895)
By: Rachel Freck


Early Life:
Born in Germany in 1855, Henry Wilkens immigrated to the United States as a young man. While residing in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, though his enlistment was accredited to New York. No detailed records of his family's origins, exact immigration date, or pre-military civilian occupation have been documented. He was assigned to the western frontier, and joined Company L of the 2nd U.S. Cavalry, where he rose to the rank of First Sergeant.
Military Service:
While living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he enlisted in the U.S. Army at age 21 and was sent out west to the frontier. Upon joining, he was assigned to Company L of the 2nd U.S. Cavalry, a regiment actively engaged in frontier defense operations during the Indian Wars, patrolling vast territories to protect settlements and military outposts from Native American resistance. In the years leading up to 1877, Henry Wilkens served in the ongoing Indian Campaigns, undertaking routine scouting missions and patrols across Montana and surrounding regions as part of the 2nd Cavalry's efforts to maintain order on the frontier. His leadership qualities were recognized through promotion to the rank of First Sergeant, where he took on key responsibilities in commanding troops and coordinating cavalry maneuvers within Company L.
During the Nez Perce War, he was among the cavalry troopers which did battle with various small bands of renegade Indians hiding throughout the Idaho Territory. He was cited for bravery in two major engagements during the summer months of 1877. On May 7, Henry Wilkens was among the soldiers who stormed Lame Deer's camp near Little Muddy Creek in the neighboring Montana Territory. As First Sergeant of Company L, 2nd Cavalry, Henry Wilkens exhibited bravery in action against the hostiles during this assault, contributing to the maintenance of order and the advance under heavy fire.
Three months later, he led troops in routing the renegades at Camas Meadows in Idaho on August 20. Despite suffering a serious head injury, Henry Wilkens remained with his company throughout the battle. This included participating in the pursuit of a captured mule train and defending his fellow soldiers when the company was surrounded by the Nez Perce for several hours. First Sergeant Henry Wilkens of Company L, 2nd Cavalry, demonstrated exceptional bravery amid the disorder. Despite suffering a serious head injury, he remained with his company throughout the battle, exemplifying resilience under fire and earning the Medal of Honor for his gallantry. Under the direction of captains including Stephen H. Jackson and Edward C. Carpenter, the regrouped U.S. troops formed a defensive line and pushed back the attackers after roughly an hour of combat, securing the immediate area despite significant losses.
Henry Wilkens received the Medal of Honor for his bravery for  both engagements against Native American forces: the action at Little Muddy Creek on May 7, 1877, and the action at Camas Meadows on August 20, 1877. The official citation, issued by the U.S. Army, states simply: "Bravery in actions with Indians.” The medal was presented to Henry Wilkens on February 28, 1878, while he was still on active duty as First Sergeant in Company L, 2d U.S. Cavalry, making the award non-posthumous. This collective recognition for both incidents underscores the exceptional nature of his service, as it was rare for a single soldier to earn the Medal of Honor for two separate actions within the same year during the Indian Wars.
Ten Medals of Honor were awarded in total for these two battles (counting multiple citations), with five recipients honored for Little Muddy Creek and five for Camas Meadows, including three (Wilkens, Garland, and Jones) cited for both. This dual citation highlights Wilkens' repeated valor amid the intense conflicts of the Nez Perce War and Great Sioux War aftermath. Within the broader context of the American Indian Wars (approximately 1865–1898), over 400 such medals were bestowed, reflecting the era's emphasis on recognizing acts of gallantry against numerically superior foes
Post Service Life:
After his actions during the Indian Wars, including the Nez Perce War, Henry Wilkens continued serving with the 2nd U.S. Cavalry on frontier assignments, performing routine duties such as patrolling and maintaining order in the American West. He later achieved the rank of Ordnance Sergeant, his highest attained, a specialized non-commissioned position responsible for overseeing the storage, maintenance, distribution, and accountability of weapons, ammunition, and related supplies for his unit. Henry Wilkens died on August 2, 1895, in Brooklyn, New York, at the age of 40. The cause of his death is not documented in available military records. He was interred at Cypress Hills National Cemetery in Brooklyn, in Section 2, Site 5325

Henry Wilkens is a Notable burial at https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/cypresshills.asp.  He was born in Germany in 1855, and later emigrated to the United States. While living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was sent out west to the frontier. He became a member of the 2nd U.S. Cavalry and eventually reached the rank of first sergeant. During the Nez Perce War, he was among the cavalry troopers which did battle with various small bands of Indians hiding throughout the Idaho Territory. He was cited for bravery in two major engagements during the summer months of 1877. On May 7, Wilkens was among the soldiers who stormed Lame Deer's camp near Little Muddy Creek in the neighboring Montana Territory. Three months later, he led troops in routing the renegades at Camas Meadows in Idaho on August 20. Despite suffering a serious head injury, Wilkens remained with his company throughout the battle. This included participating in the pursuit of a captured mule train and defending his fellow soldiers when the company was surrounded by the Nez Perce for several hours. He received the Medal of Honor for both engagements on February 28, 1878. Wilkens was one of five men who received the award at Camas Meadows including Cpl. Harry Garland, Pvt. Samuel Phillips, Pvt. William Leonard and Farrier William Jones. Wilkens died in Brooklyn, New York on August 2, 1895, and buried at Cypress Hills National Cemetery. He was 40 years old.
https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/1267
*The preceding content is not intended as a comprehensive biography, but it highlights their significance as a result of military or civilian distinction, lasting achievements, or association with impactful national events.

HENRY WILKENS

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