▁Born ▁either ▁in ▁Bright st own , ▁New ▁York ▁or ▁Philadelphia , ▁Pennsylvania , ▁Allen ▁en list ed ▁as ▁a ▁private ▁into ▁the ▁ 2 9 th ▁Pennsylvania ▁Vol unte ers ▁on ▁August ▁ 1 5 , ▁ 1 8 6 4 , ▁and ▁served ▁through ▁Sh erman ' s ▁March ▁to ▁the ▁Sea , ▁until ▁June ▁ 7 , ▁ 1 8 6 5 . ▁▁ ▁In ▁August ▁ 1 8 6 5 , ▁he ▁en list ed ▁in ▁the ▁Reg ular ▁Army ▁at ▁L ans ing burgh , ▁New ▁York ▁and ▁was ▁assigned ▁to ▁the ▁ 2 3 rd ▁U . S . ▁Infantry . ▁Event ually ▁reaching ▁the ▁rank ▁of ▁first ▁ser ge ant , ▁he ▁was ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁Lieutenant ▁Colonel ▁George ▁Cro ok ' s ▁campaign ▁against ▁the ▁Apache ▁during ▁the ▁early ▁ 1 8 7 0 s . ▁On ▁March ▁ 2 7 , ▁ 1 8 7 3 , ▁he ▁took ▁part ▁in ▁a ▁major ▁eng agement ▁against ▁the ▁Y av ap ai ▁Ap aches ▁at ▁Tur ret ▁Pe ak , ▁Arizona , ▁only ▁ 2 0 ▁miles ▁south ▁of ▁Camp ▁Ver de . ▁He , ▁along ▁with ▁Captain ▁George ▁M . ▁Rand all , ▁led ▁a ▁successful ▁surprise ▁attack ▁and ▁was ▁awarded ▁the ▁Medal ▁of ▁Honor ▁for ▁" g all antry ▁in ▁action ". ▁He ▁officially ▁received ▁the ▁medal ▁on ▁April ▁ 1 2 , ▁ 1 8 7 5 , ▁two ▁years ▁after ▁the ▁battle . ▁ ▁In ▁October ▁ 1 8 7 3