b. 02/05/1840 Baccarat, Lorraine, France. d. 05/09/1920 New York.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 17/09/1862 Antietam, Maryland.
Adolph Libaire MOH
He came to America with his family in about 1845 at age 5. On 23 April 1861, by then 21 years old, he enrolled in New York City and mustered as Captain of Company E, 9th New York Infantry on 4 May. At Antietam on 17 September 1862, after at least 8 color bearers had been shot, the following was described to have happened next….
“It seemed instant death to carry the old flag that day; but the thought of duty was greater than the thought of danger, and as the flag went down the last time the gallant Libaire himself sprang forward in the midst of the reign of death and the horrors of hell, grasped the colors firmly in his hands, and with flashing eye and cheerful tone, cried at the top of his voice “Come on boys! Come on!” and never surrendered his hold until he had planted this American flag upon the stone wall the last defensive position the enemy’s infantry held, while the remnant of our regiment pressed forward and drove the enemy’s gunners from their cannon.”
He mustered out with his Company on 20 May 1863 in New York City. He was naturalized an American citizen on 23 October 1866 in New York City and was a broker and a member of the New York Stock Exchange from 1869 to 1908. He married New Orleans-born Marie Latapie (1845-1923) in New York in May 1868 and they had at least 4 children. He was eventually presented with his Medal on April 2, 1898. He bought a shore cottage in Atlantic Highlands, NJ in 1901. By 1910 he was retired and living in Manhattan.
MOH CITATION:
In the advance on the enemy and after his color bearer and the entire color guard of eight men had been shot down, this officer seized the regimental flag and with conspicuous gallantry carried it to the extreme front, urging the line forward.
BURIAL LOCATION: GREEN WOOD CEMETERY, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.
SECTION E/F, OT 19368.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: NEW YORK STATE MILITARY MUSEUM, SARATOGA SPRINGS, NEW YORK.
