American Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. He received the award on March 9, 1887, for his actions as a private in Company F, 5th New York Cavalry, US Army, on August 28 and 30, 1862 at the Battle of Thoroughfare Gap and the Second Battle of Bull Run in Virginia during the American Civil War. Born in Monroe, Michigan, he was attending the Springville Institute in Erie County, New York when the American Civil War broke out in April 1861. He joined the 21st New York Infantry as a bugler the following September and participated in the early Virginia Campaign. At the Second Battle of Bull Run in late August 1862, he was seriously wounded and sent to Washington DC to recover and was discharged the following February. He then traveled to New Orleans, Louisiana to care for his sick brother who was also in the Union Army, and shortly afterwards, he offered his services to General Nathaniel Banks and saw action at the 2nd Battle of Donaldsonville in Louisiana. He was later promoted to the rank of sergeant major with Company M of the 31st Maine Volunteers and saw action at the Battle of Petersburg, Virginia, where on April 2, 1865, he was critically wounded and eventually recovered at a Washington DC hospital after the end of the war. He died in Washington DC at the age of 65. His Medal of Honor citation reads: "The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private Julius Dexter Rhodes, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on August 28 & 30, 1862, while serving with Company F, 5th New York Cavalry, in action at Thoroughfare Gap & Bull Run, Virginia. After having had his horse shot under him in the fight at Thoroughfare Gap, Virginia, Private Rhodes voluntarily joined the 105th New York Volunteers and was conspicuous in the advance on the enemy's lines. Displayed gallantry in the advance on the skirmish line at Bull Run, Virginia where he was wounded."
American Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. He received the award on March 9, 1887, for his actions as a private in Company F, 5th New York Cavalry, US Army, on August 28 and 30, 1862 at the Battle of Thoroughfare Gap and the Second Battle of Bull Run in Virginia during the American Civil War. Born in Monroe, Michigan, he was attending the Springville Institute in Erie County, New York when the American Civil War broke out in April 1861. He joined the 21st New York Infantry as a bugler the following September and participated in the early Virginia Campaign. At the Second Battle of Bull Run in late August 1862, he was seriously wounded and sent to Washington DC to recover and was discharged the following February. He then traveled to New Orleans, Louisiana to care for his sick brother who was also in the Union Army, and shortly afterwards, he offered his services to General Nathaniel Banks and saw action at the 2nd Battle of Donaldsonville in Louisiana. He was later promoted to the rank of sergeant major with Company M of the 31st Maine Volunteers and saw action at the Battle of Petersburg, Virginia, where on April 2, 1865, he was critically wounded and eventually recovered at a Washington DC hospital after the end of the war. He died in Washington DC at the age of 65. His Medal of Honor citation reads: "The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private Julius Dexter Rhodes, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on August 28 & 30, 1862, while serving with Company F, 5th New York Cavalry, in action at Thoroughfare Gap & Bull Run, Virginia. After having had his horse shot under him in the fight at Thoroughfare Gap, Virginia, Private Rhodes voluntarily joined the 105th New York Volunteers and was conspicuous in the advance on the enemy's lines. Displayed gallantry in the advance on the skirmish line at Bull Run, Virginia where he was wounded."
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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