Asa Gardiner was born the son of Asa and Rebekah Willard (Bentley) Gardiner in New York in 1839; his first view of the world was the interior of Fraunces Tavern, where his father worked as a bartender. Gardiner received a BA from City College and LL.B. from New York University School of Law in 1860; after his admission to the New York City Bar Association he went into private practice.

Gardiner was commissioned a first lieutenant in Company H, 31st New York Infantry Regiment on May 27, 1861, at the age of 21. He resigned on August 7, 1861, and was commissioned a captain in the 22nd New York Militia on May 31, 1862. Gardiner was honorably mustered out on September 5, 1862, but was again commissioned a captain in the same regiment on June 18, 1863. He participated in the Gettysburg campaign during that time, and distinguished himself for bravery under fire. Gardiner mustered out again when the regiment's term of service expired on July 24, 1863.

Later in the war, Gardiner was commissioned a first lieutenant in the Veterans Reserve Corps on February 11, 1865, and served as regimental adjutant until he was honorably mustered out of service on August 13, 1866. Gardiner was brevetted a captain on March 13, 1865, for "gallant and meritorious service during the war".

After the end of the Civil War, Gardiner married Mary Austen of Baltimore. He was commissioned a second lieutenant of the 9th Infantry Regiment of the Regular Army and was promoted to first lieutenant on February 14, 1868. He transferred to the 1st Artillery Regiment on April 3, 1869. Gardiner was promoted to the rank of major on August 18, 1873, and served as a Judge Advocate for 15 years until he retired from the Army on December 8, 1888.

In 1872, Gardiner was awarded the Medal of Honor for "conspicuous bravery and distinguished conduct during the Gettysburg Campaign, particularly in the action of Sporting Hill... and the defense of Carlisle." It was noted that Gardiner was wounded during the fighting around Carlisle.

His wife Mary passed away in 1900, and Gardiner remarried two years later, to Harriet Isabelle Lindsay, of New York.

Gardiner's Medal of Honor was later revoked during the "Purge of 1917," in which a board of investigators undertook to determine the validity of claims. Gardiner was one of those whose claim was challenged. The board claimed that Gardiner's award was based on a letter to the Secretary of War which stated ""I understand there are a number of bronze medals for distribution to soldiers of the late War, and I request I be allowed one as a souvenir of memorable times past." Gardiner, by this time a general and former District Attorney of New York, refused to return his medal, referring to the investigation as "a scandalous act."

Gardiner himself was no stranger to scandal; he had prosecuted the first black West Point cadet, Johnson Chesnut Whittaker, on grounds that Whittaker had staged a racially-motivated assault; Whittaker was expelled despite the overturning of the court's decision in later years. Gardiner was also active in New York politics and was heavily involved in the Tammany Hall machine; when called to confront corruption after his election to District Attorney, he famously refused, saying "Reform be damned."

The colorful and controversial Asa Gardiner died on May 24, 1919 of a stroke of apoplexy suffered the previous Saturday afternoon.

Education: A.B., Coll. City of New York, 1859; A.M., 1862, LL.B., New York, Univ. 1860 (hon. A.M. Dartmouth, 1864; Columbia, 1869; LL.D., New York Univ, 1875; L.H.D. Hobart 1896)

(thanks to user JH for the additional information!)

Asa Gardiner was born the son of Asa and Rebekah Willard (Bentley) Gardiner in New York in 1839; his first view of the world was the interior of Fraunces Tavern, where his father worked as a bartender. Gardiner received a BA from City College and LL.B. from New York University School of Law in 1860; after his admission to the New York City Bar Association he went into private practice.

Gardiner was commissioned a first lieutenant in Company H, 31st New York Infantry Regiment on May 27, 1861, at the age of 21. He resigned on August 7, 1861, and was commissioned a captain in the 22nd New York Militia on May 31, 1862. Gardiner was honorably mustered out on September 5, 1862, but was again commissioned a captain in the same regiment on June 18, 1863. He participated in the Gettysburg campaign during that time, and distinguished himself for bravery under fire. Gardiner mustered out again when the regiment's term of service expired on July 24, 1863.

Later in the war, Gardiner was commissioned a first lieutenant in the Veterans Reserve Corps on February 11, 1865, and served as regimental adjutant until he was honorably mustered out of service on August 13, 1866. Gardiner was brevetted a captain on March 13, 1865, for "gallant and meritorious service during the war".

After the end of the Civil War, Gardiner married Mary Austen of Baltimore. He was commissioned a second lieutenant of the 9th Infantry Regiment of the Regular Army and was promoted to first lieutenant on February 14, 1868. He transferred to the 1st Artillery Regiment on April 3, 1869. Gardiner was promoted to the rank of major on August 18, 1873, and served as a Judge Advocate for 15 years until he retired from the Army on December 8, 1888.

In 1872, Gardiner was awarded the Medal of Honor for "conspicuous bravery and distinguished conduct during the Gettysburg Campaign, particularly in the action of Sporting Hill... and the defense of Carlisle." It was noted that Gardiner was wounded during the fighting around Carlisle.

His wife Mary passed away in 1900, and Gardiner remarried two years later, to Harriet Isabelle Lindsay, of New York.

Gardiner's Medal of Honor was later revoked during the "Purge of 1917," in which a board of investigators undertook to determine the validity of claims. Gardiner was one of those whose claim was challenged. The board claimed that Gardiner's award was based on a letter to the Secretary of War which stated ""I understand there are a number of bronze medals for distribution to soldiers of the late War, and I request I be allowed one as a souvenir of memorable times past." Gardiner, by this time a general and former District Attorney of New York, refused to return his medal, referring to the investigation as "a scandalous act."

Gardiner himself was no stranger to scandal; he had prosecuted the first black West Point cadet, Johnson Chesnut Whittaker, on grounds that Whittaker had staged a racially-motivated assault; Whittaker was expelled despite the overturning of the court's decision in later years. Gardiner was also active in New York politics and was heavily involved in the Tammany Hall machine; when called to confront corruption after his election to District Attorney, he famously refused, saying "Reform be damned."

The colorful and controversial Asa Gardiner died on May 24, 1919 of a stroke of apoplexy suffered the previous Saturday afternoon.

Education: A.B., Coll. City of New York, 1859; A.M., 1862, LL.B., New York, Univ. 1860 (hon. A.M. Dartmouth, 1864; Columbia, 1869; LL.D., New York Univ, 1875; L.H.D. Hobart 1896)

(thanks to user JH for the additional information!)