b. 17/12/1824 Washington DC. d. 08/05/1899 Cincinnati, Ohio.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 22/07/1864 Atlanta, Georgia.
Manning F Force MOH
Manning F. Force was born in Washington, D.C., where his father, Peter Force, was the mayor. He attended Harvard College until 1845, and graduated from Harvard Law School in 1848. The following year, Force moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, and began his law practice.
With the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, Force joined the Union forces as major of the 20th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving in the Western Theater as part of General James B. McPherson’s 17th Corps.
Colonel Force’s 20th Ohio bore the brunt of the Battle of Raymond, Mississippi, in the Vicksburg Campaign. Following the Siege of Vicksburg, Force marched on to northern Georgia, where he fought in the Atlanta Campaign. He was severely wounded in the face during the Battle of Atlanta and was disfigured for life. For his valor during the Atlanta Campaign, Force was promoted to major general of volunteers in March 1865. On 31 March 1892, he received the Medal of Honor.
He returned to Cincinnati a hero and was shortly elected to a judgeship, sitting on the state bench from 1866 to 1867 and finally serving as a superior court judge. He then accepted a post as head of the Ohio Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home, which he held until his death in Cincinnati. He was also the author of 5 books, president of the Cincinnati Historical Society and a member of the Literary Club, among many other achievements. He wrote papers and books on prehistoric Native Americans and had a great love for archaeology. One of his closest friends was President Rutherford B. Hayes; he had known Hayes long before he became President; Hayes named one of his sons after him (sadly the boy died before reaching the age of 2). He was also the brother-in-law of Major General John Pope (he and Pope married sisters). In 2004, his and four other Medal of Honor recipient’s graves in Spring Grove were finally marked with a Medal of Honor marker.
MOH CITATION:
Charged upon the enemy’s works, and after their capture defended his position against assaults of the enemy until he was severely wounded.
BURIAL LOCATION: SPRING GROVE CEMETERY, CINCINNATI, OHIO.
SECTION 46, LOT 99
LOCATION OF MEDAL: FAMILY.
