Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. At the start of the Civil War, he was a lawyer in practice in Kansas, when he enlisted in the Union and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the 59th Illinois Volunteer Regiment. Rising through the ranks, he was promoted Colonel in command of the 59th Illinois Infantry Brigade in 1862. In actions at the Battle of Nashville on December 16, 1864, Colonel Post led his brigade in an attack upon a strong Confederate position at Overton Hill, Tennessee. Despite very heavy grape, canister and musketry fire, plus being wounded, he reached the enemy works and secured their position. For his service at the Battle of Nashville, he was brevetted Brigadier General of Volunteers on March 11, 1865 and awarded the Medal of Honor on March 8, 1893. After the war, he was appointed consul to Vienna in 1866 and promoted to consul general to Austria-Hungary in 1874. In 1886, he was commander of the Department of Illinois, Grand Army of the Republic, when elected as a Republican to the Fiftieth Congress and to the four succeeding Congresses, serving in office until his death at age 61.
Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. At the start of the Civil War, he was a lawyer in practice in Kansas, when he enlisted in the Union and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the 59th Illinois Volunteer Regiment. Rising through the ranks, he was promoted Colonel in command of the 59th Illinois Infantry Brigade in 1862. In actions at the Battle of Nashville on December 16, 1864, Colonel Post led his brigade in an attack upon a strong Confederate position at Overton Hill, Tennessee. Despite very heavy grape, canister and musketry fire, plus being wounded, he reached the enemy works and secured their position. For his service at the Battle of Nashville, he was brevetted Brigadier General of Volunteers on March 11, 1865 and awarded the Medal of Honor on March 8, 1893. After the war, he was appointed consul to Vienna in 1866 and promoted to consul general to Austria-Hungary in 1874. In 1886, he was commander of the Department of Illinois, Grand Army of the Republic, when elected as a Republican to the Fiftieth Congress and to the four succeeding Congresses, serving in office until his death at age 61.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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