b. 08/05/1838 Wayne, New York. d. 29/04/1903 Mendota, Illinois.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 01/04/1865 Five Forks, Virginia.
Robert F Shipley MOH
Shipley was born on 8 May 1838 in Wayne County, New York to parents James Shipley and Hannah Sampson Shipley. He was one of four children. He married Almeda Cairns Shipley and fathered two children.
Shipley enlisted in the Army as a corporal on 14 August 1862 at Penn Yan, New York, and was mustered into Company C of the 44th New York Infantry on 3 October 1862. He was promoted to sergeant on 15 November 1863 and to first sergeant at an unknown time later. On 11 October 1864, he was transferred to Company A of the 140th New York Infantry. On 1 April 1865, during a charge on Confederate defenses, Shipley encountered a color bearer of the 9th Virginia Infantry and secured the flag by bayonetting its holder.
Shipley was transferred to Company I of the 5th New York Veteran Infantry on 31 May 1865 and was mustered out of the Army at Hart’s Island, New York Harbor, New York on 21 August 1865.
MOH CITATION:
Captured the flag of the 9th Virginia Infantry (C.S.A.) in hand-to-hand combat.
BURIAL LOCATION: RESTLAND CEMETERY, MENDOTA, ILLINOIS.
ORIGINAL SECTION, BLOCK 49, LOT 8.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
