Edward Settle Godfrey

Edward Settle Godfrey
Born	(1843-10-09)October 9, 1843 Kalida, Ohio
Died	April 1, 1932(1932-04-01) (aged 88) Cookstown, New Jersey
Allegiance	United States of America
Service / branch	United States Army
Years of service	1861, 1867–1907
Rank	Brigadier General
Unit	21st Ohio Infantry 7th United States Cavalry
Commands	9th Cavalry Regiment Department of the Missouri
Battles / wars	Civil War Battle of the Little Bighorn Indian Wars Spanish–American War Philippine–American War
Awards	Medal of Honor

Edward Settle Godfrey (October 9, 1843 – April 1, 1932) was a United States Army Brigadier General who received the Medal of Honor for leadership as a captain during the Indian Wars.

Early life and education

Godfrey was born October 9, 1843 in Ottawa, Ohio. He enlisted as a private in the US Army at the beginning of the American Civil War. He served in Company D, 21st Ohio Infantry from April to August 1861.

He was admitted to the United States Military Academy at West Point two years later, and graduated in 1867.

Career

Godfrey joined the 7th United States Cavalry and as a lieutenant was a survivor of Battle of the Little Bighorn. He wrote an account of the battle and his experiences in it, originally published in Century Magazine in January 1892, which was highly influential in shaping perceptions of the battle and Custer's generalship. Despite being severely wounded at the Battle of Bear Paw Mountain against Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce Indians, September 30, 1877, Godfrey continued to lead his men in battle. He received the Medal of Honor in 1894 for his leadership actions during this battle.

Godfrey was breveted major on February 27, 1890. He served in Cuba in 1898 during the Spanish–American War and in the Philippine–American War overseas (1899–1902). He retired from the Army on October 9, 1907 with the rank of Brigadier General.

At the ceremony of the burial of the Unknown Soldier from World War I in Arlington, Virginia, Godfrey led two platoons of Medal of Honor recipients as participants.

Godfrey died on April 1, 1932, at his home in the Cookstown section of New Hanover Township, New Jersey. He was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery in Section 3. His second wife, Ida Emely Godfrey, was buried with him after her death.

Marriage and family

His first wife died before the turn of the century. Their surviving children in 1932 were Mary Godfrey and E.S. Godfrey, Jr., who became a physician. On October 6, 1892, Edward married Ida D. Emely Godfrey (1856–1941), his second wife.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Captain, 7th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Bear Paw Mountain, Mont., 30 September 1877. Entered service at: Ottawa, Putnam County, Ohio. Born: 9 October 1843, Ottawa, Ohio. Date of issue: 27 November 1894.

Citation:

Led his command into action when he was severely wounded.

See also

• Media related to Edward Settle Godfrey at Wikimedia Commons
• List of Medal of Honor recipients
• List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Indian Wars

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.