b. 1838 Portsmouth, Virginia. d. 27/07/1872 Hampton, Virginia.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 29/09/1864 Chapin’s Farm, Virginia.
Veale joined the Army in Portsmouth, Virginia, enlisting as a private in Company D of the 4th Regiment United States Colored Infantry. He was promoted to corporal on August 28, 1863. Before the war he worked as a fireman.
On September 29, 1864, his unit participated in a charge during the Battle of Chaffin’s Farm on the outskirts of the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia. Among the charging soldiers was Sergeant Alfred B. Hilton, the bearer of two flags, one of which had been seized from a wounded sergeant. When Hilton himself was wounded, Veale and another soldier, Sergeant Major Christian Fleetwood, each grabbed a flag from him before the colors could touch the ground. Now carrying the blue regimental flag, Veale continued in the fight through heavy enemy fire. General Benjamin Butler witnessed these events and desired to promote Veale to sergeant on the spot. He was officially promoted on November 12, 1864.
For their actions during the battle, Fleetwood, Hilton, and Veale were each issued the Medal of Honor just over six months later, on April 6, 1865.[3] He also received another medal for valor which was awarded to colored troops, the Butler Medal.
MOH CITATION:
Seized the national colors, after two color bearers had been shot down close to the enemy’s works, and bore them through the remainder of the battle.
BURIAL LOCATION: HAMPTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, HAMPTON, VIRGINIA.
SECTION F, GRAVE 5097
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
