b. 1844 Lindsay, Ontario, Canada. d. 20/07/1864 Peachtree Creek, Georgia.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 20/07/1864 Peachtree Creek, Georgia.
He was enrolled in the Union Army at Avon, Livingston County, New York, being mustered in as a Private in Company G, 136th New York Volunteer Infantry on September 25, 1862. On January 11, 1863 he was captured by Confederate forces at Bank Ford, Virginia, but was paroled on January 23, 1863. During the July 20, 1864 Battle of Peachtree Creek, Georgia, north of Atlanta, his regiment was pursuing the retreating members of the 31st Mississippi Infantry when Private Buckley crawled on his hands and knees to capture their Confederate’s regimental flag, which had been dropped on the ground when its colorbearer was shot. After gaining possession, he sprang up and waved the captured flag, and was then shot and killed. He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery posthumously on April 7, 1865 (his citation reading simply “Capture of flag of 31st Mississippi (C.S.A.). He was eventually interred in Marietta National Cemetery under the under name of “Dennis Burkley”. The error was not discovered until 2006, when his gravesite was marked with a Medal of Honor headstone.
MOH CITATION:
Capture of flag of 31st Mississippi (Confederate States of America).
BURIAL LOCATION: MARIETTA NATIONAL CEMETERY, MARIETTA, GEORGIA.
SECTION G, SITE 6686
LOCATION OF MEDAL: FAMILY.
