Jacob E Swap MOH

b. 12/08/1846 Coeymans, New York. d. 22/01/1926 Lakeport, California.

DATE OF MOH ACTION: 05/05/1864 Wilderness, Virginia.

Jacob E Swap MOH

Swap was born on 12 August 1846 in Coeymans, New York to parents William and Amanda Swap. He was married to Angeline L. Swap. After being discharged from the Army, he served as a district judge in western Pennsylvania and also worked in railroading. After the death of Angeline in 1923, he relocated to Lakeport, California until his death on 22 January 1925.

Swap enlisted in the Army at age 15 on 29 August 1861 at Springs, Pennsylvania. He was mustered into H Company of the 83rd Pennsylvania Infantry. On 1 May 1864, Swap was ill as his regiment prepared to depart from Rappahannock Station, Virginia. However, Swap refused to be admitted to the hospital, instead making multiple attempts over the next few days to join the ranks. On 5 May, he succeeded in trading his station guarding the regiment’s supplies to a battle-weary comrade and fought in the Battle of the Wilderness on the 6th, 7th, and 8th. On 8 May, he was wounded 5 times during an attack and was captured by Confederate forces, remaining a POW until the end of the war.

 

MOH CITATION:

Although assigned to other duty, he voluntarily joined his regiment in a charge and fought with it until severely wounded.

 

BURIAL LOCATION: EVERGREEN CEMETERY, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

GARDEN OF DEVOTION, ROW 10, SPACE 55.

LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.