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Sylvester Hopkins Martin

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Sylvester Hopkins Martin Famous memorial Veteran

Birth
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA
Death
25 Sep 1927 (aged 86)
Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania, USA
Burial
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA GPS-Latitude: 39.9334335, Longitude: -75.2345734
Plot
Section 204, Lot 717
Memorial ID
View Source
Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. He was 20 years old when he enlisted in the Union Army only days after the Civil war began, being mustered in as a Private in Company A, 23rd Pennsylvania (Three Month) Volunteer Infantry on April 21,1861. The regiment served in Maryland and Virginia during its short enlistment, seeing skirmish action against the rebels before being mustered out on July 31, 1861. A few weeks later he rejoined the Union war effort, being mustered in as a Private in Company F, 88th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry on September 14, 1861. He was wounded at the September 17, 1862 Battle of Antietam, and the need to replace casualties from the battle facilitated his promotion to 2nd Lieutenant on November 11, 1862. Transferred to Company K on January 1, 1863, he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on February 23, 1863. He was in command of Company K when the regiment fought at the July 1863 Battle of Gettysburg, where it took part in the first day's fighting. There north of town the 88th Pennsylvania's brigade helped repulse an attack by the Confederate brigade of General Alfred Iverson. The next year, as the regiment fought during the Siege of Petersburg, Virginia, the bravery he displayed at the August 19, 1864 Battle of Weldon Railroad, Virginia, would be recognized with the Medal of Honor, with his citation reading "Gallantly made a most dangerous reconnaissance, discovering the position of the enemy and enabling the division to repulse an attack made in strong force." Commissioned Captain on January 30, 1865, he was severely wounded at the February 7, 1865 Battle of Hatcher's Run. Never mustered in at his Captains rank, he served through the end of the conflict, and was honorably discharged due to wounds on June 7, 1865. His Medal was awarded to him on April 5, 1894.
Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. He was 20 years old when he enlisted in the Union Army only days after the Civil war began, being mustered in as a Private in Company A, 23rd Pennsylvania (Three Month) Volunteer Infantry on April 21,1861. The regiment served in Maryland and Virginia during its short enlistment, seeing skirmish action against the rebels before being mustered out on July 31, 1861. A few weeks later he rejoined the Union war effort, being mustered in as a Private in Company F, 88th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry on September 14, 1861. He was wounded at the September 17, 1862 Battle of Antietam, and the need to replace casualties from the battle facilitated his promotion to 2nd Lieutenant on November 11, 1862. Transferred to Company K on January 1, 1863, he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on February 23, 1863. He was in command of Company K when the regiment fought at the July 1863 Battle of Gettysburg, where it took part in the first day's fighting. There north of town the 88th Pennsylvania's brigade helped repulse an attack by the Confederate brigade of General Alfred Iverson. The next year, as the regiment fought during the Siege of Petersburg, Virginia, the bravery he displayed at the August 19, 1864 Battle of Weldon Railroad, Virginia, would be recognized with the Medal of Honor, with his citation reading "Gallantly made a most dangerous reconnaissance, discovering the position of the enemy and enabling the division to repulse an attack made in strong force." Commissioned Captain on January 30, 1865, he was severely wounded at the February 7, 1865 Battle of Hatcher's Run. Never mustered in at his Captains rank, he served through the end of the conflict, and was honorably discharged due to wounds on June 7, 1865. His Medal was awarded to him on April 5, 1894.

Bio by: RPD2



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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Originally Created by: John Schimpf
  • Added: May 25, 2003
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7489660/sylvester_hopkins-martin: accessed ), memorial page for Sylvester Hopkins Martin (9 Aug 1841–25 Sep 1927), Find a Grave Memorial ID 7489660, citing Mount Moriah Cemetery, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.