Career
He was one of 34 men received the Medal of Honor for "bravery in scouts and actions" in several engagements against the Apache Indians in the Arizona Territory from August to October 1868. Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1845, Bernard McBride enlisted in the United States. Army in Washington, District of Columbia and was sent out west for frontier duty in the Arizona Territory. McBride served with the 8th United States. Cavalry and, from August to October 1868, was part of a small force numbering 50-60 troopers assigned to protect settlements from Apache raiding parties.
He and his fellow soldiers spent the next three months in heavy fighting with the Apache, most often in the form of ambushes and sniper attacks, during their patrols.
He was among the 34 soldiers who were received the Medal of Honor, in one of the United States. Army"s largest Medal of Honor presentations at the time, for "bravery in scouts and actions against Indians" on July 24, 1869.
