Frederick Platten

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Sergeant Frederick Platten, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 23 April 1875, while serving with Company H, 6th U.S. Cavalry, in action at Sappa Creek, Kansas. With five other men Sergeant Platten waded in mud and water up the creek to a position directly behind an entrenched Cheyenne position, who were using natural bank pits to good advantage against the main column. This surprise attack from the enemy rear broke their resistance.