b. 11/08/1841 Wallkill, New York. d. 06/10/1906 Middletown, New York.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 12/05/1864 Spotsylvania, Virginia.
Lewis S Wisner MOH
Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. Served in the Civil War as a First Lieutenant in Company K, 124th New York Volunteer Infantry. He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery at the Battle of Spotsylvania, Virginia, on May 12, 1864.
While serving on the staff of Brig. General J.H. Hobart Ward’s staff during the battle, he had been ordered to direct a Union artillery battery commander to lower a breastworks of logs that was protecting his men from the Confederates, who were literally just over the other side of the works. When the battery commander balked at this, Lewis S. Wisner jump on the works himself and hacked the portion of the breastworks with an axe, being full exposed to the rebels, some of whom were only feet away. He finished his brave deed unscathed, but his uniform sustained multiple bullet holes. He eventually rose to Captain and commander of Company K. His Medal was awarded to him on January 2, 1895. He was one of five 124th New York soldiers to be awarded the Medal of Honor for their bravery during the Civil War (the others being Sergeant Thomas W. Bradley, Private Archibald Freeman, Private Nathan M. Hallock, and Corporal George W. Thompkins).
MOH CITATION:
While serving as an engineer officer voluntarily exposed himself to the enemy’s fire.
BURIAL LOCATION: HILLSIDE CEMETERY, MIDDLETOWN, NEW YORK.
SECTION 13 AND 14, LOT 642.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
