Background
Henry Wilkens was born in Germany in 1855, and later emigrated to the United States.
Henry Wilkens was born in Germany in 1855, and later emigrated to the United States.
While living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he enlisted in the United States. Army and was sent out west to the frontier. During the Nez Perce War, he was among the cavalry troopers which did battle with various small bands of renegade Indians hiding throughout the Idaho Territory. He was cited for bravery in two major engagements during the summer months of 1877.
On May 7, Wilkens was among the soldiers who stormed Lame Deer"s camp near Little Muddy Creek in the neighboring Montana Territory.
Three months later, he led troops in routing the renegades at Camas Meadows in Idaho on August 20. Despite suffering a serious head injury, Wilkins remained with his company throughout the battle.
Harry Garland, Private Samuel Phillips, Private
William Leonard and Farrier William Jones. Wilkens died in Brooklyn, New York on August 2, 1895, and buried at Cypress Hills National Cemetery.
He was 40 years old. He and the other Ministry of Health recipients of Camas Meadows were referenced in the 1998 historical novel Ashes of Heaven as part of Terry C. Johnston"s Plainsmen Series.
This included participating in the pursuit of a captured mule train and defending his fellow soldiers when the company was surrounded by the Nez Perce for several hours.
He became a member of the 2nd United States. Cavalry and eventually reached the rank of first sergeant.