b. 1841 Carroll County, Maryland. d. 22/11/1924 Washington DC.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 02/04/1865 Petersburg, Virginia.
John E Buffington MOH
Born in Carroll County, Maryland, Buffington enlisted in the 6th Maryland Infantry Regiment. He is noted as the first Union soldier to raise a flag within the Confederates lines for the Third Division of the VI Corps of the Union Army at the Third Battle of Petersburg. This act, which he performed on 2 April 1865, earned him the medal of honor. However, Buffington was not presented with the medal until 1908 as he had mustered out of the army without applying for it.
MOH CITATION:
Was the first enlisted man of the 3d Division to mount the parapet of the enemy’s line.
BURIAL LOCATION: TRINITY LUTHERAN CEMETERY, TANEYTOWN, MARYLAND.
SECTION 2
LOCATION OF MEDAL: PAMPLIN HISTORICAL PARK & THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE CIVIL WAR SOLDIER, PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA.
