James S. Casey

James Seaman Casey

Commanding Officer 22nd Infantry

January 21, 1895 - January 28, 1897

James S. Casey was originally from Pennsylvania. In April 1861 he enlisted as a private in Co H
of the 7th Regiment of the New York State Militia. Commissioned a 2nd LT in the Regular Army
in the summer of 1861, in the 15th Infantry. Promoted to 1st LT and eventually to Captain.
Became Commissary of Musters for Major General J.G. Parke, commander of the Army of the Potomac.

On March 25, 1865 he was brevetted Major for gallantry in action at Port Steedman, VA.

Reduced to Captain in the 5th Infantry after the war. In 1878 at Ft. Keogh, Montana, he was found guilty
of drunkeness on duty. Because of his record he was returned to duty by order of the President.
He rose to Major 17th Inf on June 27, 1882.
Promoted to LT COL 1st Inf June 21, 1893.
Promoted Colonel of the 22nd Infantry January 21, 1895.
Retired January 28, 1897.

Died Dec 25, 1899 and is buried at Vale Cemetery, Schenectady, NY.

Medal of Honor - type worn 1862-1896

As a Captain in command of Company A, 5th Infantry, James S. Casey was awarded the Medal of Honor
for his gallantry at the Battle of Wolf's Mountain in 1877, where COL Nelson Miles
commanded Companies of the 5th, 17th and 22nd Infantry against a coaltion of warriors
led by Crazy Horse. Casey & his company were deployed with a field artillery piece (3 inch gun)
on the battlefield. Casey led a charge across open ground under heavy fire
and took one of three hills commanding the field. The citation for his Medal of Honor reads:

CASEY, JAMES S.

Rank and Organization: Captain, 5th U.S. Infantry. Place and Date: At Wolf Mountain, Mont., 8 January 1877.
Entered Service At: New York, N.Y. Birth: Philadelphia, Pa. Date of Issue: 27 November 1894. Captain, 5th U.S. Infantry.
Place and Date: At Wolf Mountain, Mont., 8 January 1877. Entered Service At: New York, N.Y. Birth: Philadelphia, Pa.
Date of Issue: 27 November 1894.

Citation:

Led his command in a successful charge against superior numbers of the enemy strongly posted.

**********************

The following is an article from SCHENECTADY Gazette
THURSDAY MORNING, MAY 12, 1960,
and describes the action for which Casey received the Medal of Honor:

The base of the obelisk at James S. Casey's grave at Vale Cemetery,
Schenectady, New York

The grave marker for Colonel James Seaman Casey

Article from the SCHENECTADY Gazette and
photos of James S. Casey's grave by Thomas Dunne
from the Find A Grave website

**********************

BACK