b. 09/08/1845 Wells Township, Ohio. d. 30/10/1910 Lebanon, Ohio.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 15/05/1864 New Market, Virginia.
James M Burns MOH
Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. He served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Union Army. He was awarded the Medal of Honor as a Sergeant in Company B, 1st West Virginia Infantry for action on May 15, 1864 at New Market, Virginia. His citation reads “Under a heavy fire of musketry, rallied a few men to the support of the colors, in danger of capture, and bore them to a place of safety. One of his comrades having been severely wounded in the effort, Sgt. Burns went back a hundred yards in the face of the enemy’s fire and carried the wounded man from the field.”
MOH CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Sergeant James Madison Burns, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 15 May 1864, while serving with Company B, 1st West Virginia Infantry, in action at New Market, Virginia. Under a heavy fire of musketry, Sergeant Burns rallied a few men to the support of the colors, in danger of capture and bore them to a place of safety. One of his comrades having been severely wounded in the effort, Sergeant Burns went back a hundred yards in the face of the enemy’s fire and carried the wounded man from the field.
BURIAL LOCATION: LEBANON CEMETERY, LEBANON, OHIO.
OLD SECTION, PLOT 117.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: FAMILY.
