Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. He entered into the Union Army on April 25, 1861, when he was mustered in as a Corporal in Company I, 17th Pennsylvania (Three-Months) Infantry. He served with his unit as it first garrisoned the defenses of Washington, DC, then along the Potomac River in Virginia before it was mustered out on August 2, 1861. On August 21, 1861 he rejoined the war effort, being mustered in as the 1st Sergeant of Company H, 61st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He was promoted two times during his service in the next two years - first to 2nd Lieutenant on October 7, 1862, then to 1st Lieutenant of Company A on September 12, 1863. At the May 12, 1864 Battle of Spotsylvania, Virginia, he performed an act of bravery under fire that would see him awarded the Medal of Honor. His citation for that act reads "Although severely wounded, he led the regiment against the enemy, under a terrific fire, and saved a battery from capture". He spent the next few months recovering from his wounds, and upon his return was promoted to Captain and commander of Company E (October 1, 1864). He served leading his unit until his wounds forced him to resign on February 10, 1865. He was awarded his Medal of Honor on June 25, 1892, which was 28 years after his heroic deeds. He was one of eight 61st Pennsylvania Infantry soldiers to be awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery during the Civil War (the others being Corporal Joseph Fisher, Corporal John C. Matthews, Private Milton Matthews, Captain George W. Mindil, Private Theodore Mitchell, Major Robert L. Orr, and Sergeant Sylvester D. Rhodes).
Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. He entered into the Union Army on April 25, 1861, when he was mustered in as a Corporal in Company I, 17th Pennsylvania (Three-Months) Infantry. He served with his unit as it first garrisoned the defenses of Washington, DC, then along the Potomac River in Virginia before it was mustered out on August 2, 1861. On August 21, 1861 he rejoined the war effort, being mustered in as the 1st Sergeant of Company H, 61st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He was promoted two times during his service in the next two years - first to 2nd Lieutenant on October 7, 1862, then to 1st Lieutenant of Company A on September 12, 1863. At the May 12, 1864 Battle of Spotsylvania, Virginia, he performed an act of bravery under fire that would see him awarded the Medal of Honor. His citation for that act reads "Although severely wounded, he led the regiment against the enemy, under a terrific fire, and saved a battery from capture". He spent the next few months recovering from his wounds, and upon his return was promoted to Captain and commander of Company E (October 1, 1864). He served leading his unit until his wounds forced him to resign on February 10, 1865. He was awarded his Medal of Honor on June 25, 1892, which was 28 years after his heroic deeds. He was one of eight 61st Pennsylvania Infantry soldiers to be awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery during the Civil War (the others being Corporal Joseph Fisher, Corporal John C. Matthews, Private Milton Matthews, Captain George W. Mindil, Private Theodore Mitchell, Major Robert L. Orr, and Sergeant Sylvester D. Rhodes).
Bio by: RPD2
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