Otto Voit - MOH

Voit enlisted in the 13th US Infantry in Dec. 1864. The 13th was organized in 1861 with its first Colonel none other than William Tecumseh Sherman. The regiment served in the western theatre of the war, distinguishing itself at Vicksburg, where it was the only Federal regiment to breach the rebel fortifications. There the 13th earned the sobriquet "First at Vicksburg".

Voit, serving in Co. D, deserted 21 Feb 1866 while his company I believe was posted to the Dakota Territory, at a Missouri River post. For whatever reason, he returned to the army in Dec that year, enlisting in the 7th Cavalry under the name Frank May; being assigned to Benteen's Co. H.

Voit surrendered as a deserter 5 Dec 1873 and was granted clemency under Presidential Proclamation. Voit was restored to duty and suffered no disciplinary action.
Voit apparently matured and took to cavalry life; serving 34 years until retiring in 1898 with excellent character references.

He of course won the MOH for providing covering fire for the water carriers at the Reno Hill site.

BTW, T-Dude, thanks for posting that link! I found out there is an Indian War MOH winner buried not fifteen minutes from me. Pvt. James Huff, First Cavalry, earned the medal for gallant conduct during Crook's Tonto Basin campaign in Arizona in 1872-72. He is buried at Pine Hill Cemetery, New Port Richey, Florida.

I'll have to pay his gravesite a visit.

Hate to break the news to the Ft. Lee Museum, but Voit and Mechling were not "quartermasters". They were assigned to and served with, Company H. Each company had a saddler and blacksmith. Along with trumpeters and farriers these were designations but not army ranks. They received extra pay for their performing their specialized tasks.

The insignia that the sergeant wears in the diorama was officially authorized, ironically, on 25 June 1873. However it was to be worn only on the dress coat; though given the flexibility in wearing of uniforms a commander may well have authorized its wearing on fatigue blouses. Perhaps Custer did so; but this is rather unlikely. "Saddler Sergeant" WAS a rank at the Regimental Headquarters level. Only this "master saddler" as Doug McChristian terms him, was authorized these chevrons. Voit was a company saddler; he did not hold the rank of Saddler Sergeant. That title belonged to Saddler Sgt. John G. Tritten, who was on duty at the Yellowstone Depot and not present at the battle.

Still, a nice job on the diorama. But it seems nobody gets it right when it comes to the Indian Wars army.