American Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. He received the award on April 8, 1892 for his actions as a colonel in command of the 3rd Vermont Infantry of the Union Army on May 10, 1864 at the Battle of Spotsylvania, Virginia during the Wilderness Campaign. Born in Cavendish, Vermont, he graduated from the Green Mountain Academy, South Woodstock, Vermont in 1855 and attended Tufts University in Massachusetts for one year before transferring to Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont in 1856 and finally to Union College in Schenectady, New York where he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1859. When the American Civil War broke out in April 1861, he joined the Union Army and made commander of the 3rd Vermont Infantry at the rank of captain. In August 1861 he was promoted to the rank of major, followed by a promotion to lieutenant colonel in September 1962 and to full colonel in January 1863. In addition to the Battle of Spotsylvania, he served in other major Civil War engagements, including the Battle of Antietam, Maryland (September 1862) and the Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (July 1963). In July 1864 he was mustered out of the Union Army and he returned to Cavendish where he practiced law. In 1886 he was appointed probate judge. He died from a heart attack in Woodstock, Vermont at the age of 78. 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 Colonel Thomas Orville Seaver, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 10 May 1864, while serving with 3d Vermont Infantry, in action at Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia. At the head of three regiments and under a most galling fire Colonel Seaver attacked and occupied the enemy's works."
American Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. He received the award on April 8, 1892 for his actions as a colonel in command of the 3rd Vermont Infantry of the Union Army on May 10, 1864 at the Battle of Spotsylvania, Virginia during the Wilderness Campaign. Born in Cavendish, Vermont, he graduated from the Green Mountain Academy, South Woodstock, Vermont in 1855 and attended Tufts University in Massachusetts for one year before transferring to Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont in 1856 and finally to Union College in Schenectady, New York where he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1859. When the American Civil War broke out in April 1861, he joined the Union Army and made commander of the 3rd Vermont Infantry at the rank of captain. In August 1861 he was promoted to the rank of major, followed by a promotion to lieutenant colonel in September 1962 and to full colonel in January 1863. In addition to the Battle of Spotsylvania, he served in other major Civil War engagements, including the Battle of Antietam, Maryland (September 1862) and the Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (July 1963). In July 1864 he was mustered out of the Union Army and he returned to Cavendish where he practiced law. In 1886 he was appointed probate judge. He died from a heart attack in Woodstock, Vermont at the age of 78. 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 Colonel Thomas Orville Seaver, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 10 May 1864, while serving with 3d Vermont Infantry, in action at Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia. At the head of three regiments and under a most galling fire Colonel Seaver attacked and occupied the enemy's works."
Bio by: William Bjornstad
Family Members
Advertisement
