Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. Born in London, England, he was a farmer in Rochester, Minnesota, when he enlisted in the Union Army at the start of the Civil War. Assigned to picket duty, he served as a Private in Company H, 2nd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. On February 15, 1863, he was a member of a detachment in a wagon train when 125 Confederate Cavalry attacked them near Nolensville, Tennessee. Private Vale together with his comrades moved to a log building for cover and returned fire. There even though some of the detachment were wounded he repulsed the attack, saved the train, plus captured enemy horses and weapons. He later achieved the rank of Sergeant before being discharged from the Army on July 11, 1865. For his heroic actions at Nolensville, Tennessee, he was awarded the Medal of Honor on September 11, 1897. After the war, he was the chief mailing clerk for the Davenport Post Office in Iowa and retired in 1899. He remained in Davenport and was active in the Grand Army of the Republic, until his death at age 79.
Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. Born in London, England, he was a farmer in Rochester, Minnesota, when he enlisted in the Union Army at the start of the Civil War. Assigned to picket duty, he served as a Private in Company H, 2nd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. On February 15, 1863, he was a member of a detachment in a wagon train when 125 Confederate Cavalry attacked them near Nolensville, Tennessee. Private Vale together with his comrades moved to a log building for cover and returned fire. There even though some of the detachment were wounded he repulsed the attack, saved the train, plus captured enemy horses and weapons. He later achieved the rank of Sergeant before being discharged from the Army on July 11, 1865. For his heroic actions at Nolensville, Tennessee, he was awarded the Medal of Honor on September 11, 1897. After the war, he was the chief mailing clerk for the Davenport Post Office in Iowa and retired in 1899. He remained in Davenport and was active in the Grand Army of the Republic, until his death at age 79.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
Family Members
Advertisement
See more Vale memorials in:
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
