Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. He was commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant in Company C, 142nd New York Volunteer Infantry on August 2, 1863. Promoted to Captain and commander of the Company on November 17, 1864, he had not get been officially mustered into that rank when he participated in the aborted first Union attempt to capture Fort Fisher, North Carolina on December 24, 1864. There his bravery would see him be awarded the CMOH, which his citation reading "During the bombardment of the fort by the fleet, captured and brought the flag of the fort, the flagstaff having been shot down." He was in command of the regiment's skirmish line as it approached the Fort while Union naval forces rained ordnance down on it. He saw a shell cut down the Confederate flag flying over the fort, and ran in despite the terrific artillery that was falling around him. He climbed the parapet, seized the flag, and made his way back to the skirmish line under fire and unscathed. After the Union assault was called off, and the United States forces withdrew, Captain Walling's deed would prove to make him the only Union soldier to enter the fort during the operation, and was feted brigade commander Colonel Newton M. Curtis as "one of the most gallant exploits of the war." He was brevetted Lieutenant Colonel, US Volunteers, served through the conclusion of the war, and was honorably mustered out on June 7, 1865. He was awarded his Medal on March 28, 1892.
Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. He was commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant in Company C, 142nd New York Volunteer Infantry on August 2, 1863. Promoted to Captain and commander of the Company on November 17, 1864, he had not get been officially mustered into that rank when he participated in the aborted first Union attempt to capture Fort Fisher, North Carolina on December 24, 1864. There his bravery would see him be awarded the CMOH, which his citation reading "During the bombardment of the fort by the fleet, captured and brought the flag of the fort, the flagstaff having been shot down." He was in command of the regiment's skirmish line as it approached the Fort while Union naval forces rained ordnance down on it. He saw a shell cut down the Confederate flag flying over the fort, and ran in despite the terrific artillery that was falling around him. He climbed the parapet, seized the flag, and made his way back to the skirmish line under fire and unscathed. After the Union assault was called off, and the United States forces withdrew, Captain Walling's deed would prove to make him the only Union soldier to enter the fort during the operation, and was feted brigade commander Colonel Newton M. Curtis as "one of the most gallant exploits of the war." He was brevetted Lieutenant Colonel, US Volunteers, served through the conclusion of the war, and was honorably mustered out on June 7, 1865. He was awarded his Medal on March 28, 1892.
Bio by: RPD2
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