Oscar Fitzalan Long (1852 - 1928)

Born 16 Jun 1852 in Utica, Oneida, New York, United States

Ancestors

Died 23 Dec 1928 at age 76 in Piedmont, Alameda, California, United States

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Oscar Long was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Biography

Oscar Fitzalan Long was the son of parents William Wallace Long (1828–1893) and Eva Eliza Veeder Long (1829–1904). In 1896 he married Amy Requa (1876-1960) and they had two daughters, Amy L. (Long) Sutton (1897–1951) and Sarah Requa "Sally" Long (1901–1984, she had two husbands). Brigadier General Oscar F. Long died on December 23, 1928, at age 76 and is buried at Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland, California. Oscar's wife Amy remarried many years after his death and was a successful business person.

Long was one of nine men who received the Medal of Honor for valor or actions as a Second Lieutenant at the Battle of Bear Paw Mountain in 1877 and was awarded the medal in 1895. He retired a Brigadier General in 1904, became a respected businessman, and moved to California.

Via the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) website, Oscar was born in Utica, New York, and graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in the class of 1876 and was assigned to the 5th U.S. Infantry. Long served in the Army until 1904, mostly in the American West.

During the campaign against Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce on September 30, 1877, Second Lieutenant Oscar Long was one of nine men who received the Medal of Honor for valor at the Battle of Bear Paw Mountain. His citation reads, “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.” The medal was awarded on March 22, 1895.

After retiring as a brigadier general in 1904, Long moved to Oakland, California, and became a businessman.

A collection of Long’s papers are on file with the University of California at Berkley. These include correspondence, Army orders, maps, and manuscripts of military pamphlets that relate to Long’s army career, especially to battles with the Montana Indians of the Yellowstone District from 1877 to 1878, and to his work in the Quartermaster Department.

Medal of Honor Citation

Medal of Honor AWARDED FOR ACTIONS DURING Indian Campaigns. Service: Army. Division: 5th U.S. Infantry. GENERAL ORDERS: Date of Issue: March 22, 1895.

CITATION: The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Second Lieutenant Oscar Fitzalan Long, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 30 September 1877, while serving with 5th U.S. Infantry, in action at Bear Paw Mountain, Montana. Having been directed to order a troop of cavalry to advance, and finding both its officers killed, Second Lieutenant Long voluntarily assumed command, and under a heavy fire from the Indians advanced the troop to its proper position.

Sources

• California Death Index, 1905-1939 [1] shows the death of Oscar F Long at age 76 in 1928 in California. Born about 1852. Certificate Number 61125.
• California, U.S., Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1850-1941 [2] via Ancestry.com shows the marriage of Oscar F Long and Amy Requa on 7 Oct 1896 at Alameda, California.
• Find A Grave Index [3] shows parents, wife and one child.
• U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 [4] via Ancestry.com shows membership application of Oscar Fitzalan Long, and his mother Eva E. (Veeder/Verder) Long, and Eva's parents are shown as Samuel Veeder/Verder and Jane Mabie Veerder.
• 1870 US Census for German Flats, Herkimer County, New York [5] shows Oscar F Long at age 20, born in NY, known son of listed parents William W. Long, 41 years, born NY, and Eva E. Long, 40 years, born NY.
• Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), Members who were Medal of Honor recipients [6]. States: Oscar F. Long signed his SAR application on August 1, 1895. His SAR National number is 7033. He was a member of the District of Columbia SAR. His D.C. Society number is 533. His SAR patriot ancestor is Cornelius Mabrie of Rotterdam, New York, First Lieutenant, Captain John Van Patten’s Company, Colonel Abraham Wemple’s New York Regiment.
• Wikipedia Page for Oscar Fitzalan Long [7]
• The Hall of Valor Project Website [8] shows his Medal of Honor citation and home of record of Utica, NY.