| Oscar Fitzalan Long | |
|---|---|
Oscar Fitzalan Long |
|
| Born | June 16, 1852 Utica, New York |
| Died | December 23, 1928 (aged 76) Piedmont, California |
| Place of burial | Mountain View Cemetery, Oakland, California |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1876–1904 |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Battles/wars | American Indian Wars |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
Oscar Fitzalan Long (June 16, 1852 – December 23, 1928) was a United States Army Brigadier General who was a recipient of the Medal of Honor for valor in action on September 30, 1877 near Bear Paw Mountain, Montana. An 1876 graduate of West Point, he served in the Army until 1904.
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Long was born in Utica, New York in 1852. He received an appointment to West Point, graduating in 1876.[1] He served most of his Army career in the American West. During the campaign against Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce in the fall of 1877, Long was one of nine men who received the Medal of Honor for valor at the Battle of Bear Paw Mountain.[2]
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, 5th U.S. Infantry. Place and date: At Bear Paw Mountain, Mont., 30 September 1877. Entered service at: Utica, N.Y. Born: 16 June 1852, Utica, N.Y. Date of issue: 22 March 1895.
Citation:
"Having been directed to order a troop of cavalry to advance, and finding both its officers killed, he voluntarily assumed command, and under a heavy fire from the Indians advanced the troop to its proper position."[3]
After retiring as a Brigadier General in 1904, Long moved to Oakland, California and became a businessman. He has a collection of papers on file at the University of California, Berkeley.[4] Long is buried at Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland.[1]