b. 02/02/1839 Allegany County, Maryland. d. 21/01/1916 Phelps City, Missouri.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 07/08/1864 Tallahatchie River, Mississippi.
Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. He entered the Union Army in November 1861, when he was mustered in as a Private in Company B of the 4th Battalion, Missouri State Militia (also known as “Thompson’s Battalion). When that unit was mustered out February 1862, he joined the 5th Missouri State Militia Cavalry as a Commissary Sergeant. His service in that regiment led to his being mustered in as Commissary Sergeant of Company D, 12th Missouri Volunteer Infantry. It was while he was with this unit that he performed an act of bravery during an engagement on the Tallahatchie River, Mississippi on August 7, 1864 that would see him awarded the CMOH.
The citation for the award reads “Was 1 of 4 volunteers who swam the river under a brisk fire of the enemy’s sharpshooters and brought over a ferry boat by means of which the troops crossed and dislodged the enemy from a strong position.” He was awarded his Medal of Honor for this on August 24, 1905. He was later promoted to 1st Lieutenant before being mustered out of the 12th Infantry. His subsequent service during the war would be as a Private, first in Battery L, 3rd United States Colored Heavy Artillery, then as a Private in Company B, 88th United States Colored Troops.
MOH CITATION:
Was one of four volunteers who swam the river under a brisk fire of the enemy’s sharpshooters and brought over a ferry boat, by means of which the troops crossed and dislodged the enemy from a strong position.
BURIAL LOCATION: ELMWOOD CEMETERY, ROCKPORT, MISSOURI.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
