b. 31/01/1840 Knoxville, Ohio. d. 24/04/1904 Fallbrook, California.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 04/1862 Big Shanty, Georgia.
William Pittinger MOH
Born in Knoxville in 1840 and reared at a farm in New Somerset, William Pittenger mustered into the 2nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under a 90-day enlistment, in 1861. He fought at the First Battle of Bull Run and was the war correspondent for the Steubenville Herald. After reenlisting, he participated in the ill-fated Andrews Raid of 1862. While attempting to disrupt enemy supply lines, the raiders stole the Confederate locomotive “The General.” After being chased north, they were captured. Eight of the twenty-two captured raiders were executed as spies and the remainder languished in prison. After being paroled in 1863, Pittenger was presented the fifth Congressional Medal of Honor by Secretary of War Edwin Stanton and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. He was discharged from the Army due to poor health and returned home to preach at the New Somerset Methodist Church and recount his experiences in several books, including Daring and Suffering: A History of the Great Railroad Adventure. He was also known as William Pittenger.
MOH CITATION:
One of 19 of 24 men (including two civilians) who, by direction of Gen. Ormsby M. Mitchell, penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory and captured a railroad train at Big Shanty, Ga., in an attempt to destroy the bridges and track between Chattanooga and Atlanta.
BURIAL LOCATION: ODD FELLOWS CEMETERY, FALLBROOK, CALIFORNIA.
SECTION A, GRAVE 15.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
