Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. The son of Union Army Brigadier General Rufus King Sr., he served during the Civil War as a 1st Lieutenant in the 4th United States Regular Artillery. He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery at White Oak Swamp Bridge, Virginia on June 30, 1862, with his citation reading “This officer, when his captain was wounded, succeeded to the command of two batteries while engaged against a superior force of the enemy and fought his guns most gallantly until compelled to retire”. His artillery, consisting of 8 guns, fought off a concentrated Confederate attack on the rear guard of the Army of the Potomac, which had been retreating from Savage Station. They were the only obstacle preventing Confederate forces from rebuilding a bridge the Union Army had burned, preventing the Rebels from crossing over a river to destroy badly needed Union supplies. He and his men endured fire from over 30 Rebel artillery pieces for over 17 hours in their successful defense of the Union rear. His Medal was awarded to him on April 2, 1898. He had begun his Civil War served with an enlistment in the 7th New York State Militia, serving as a Private in Company F from April 26 to June 3, 1861. He was commissioned 1st Lieutenant in the 4th Artillery on August 5, 1861, serving with it through the balance of the war. He received the brevet of Captain, US Regular Army on June 30, 1862, and Major, US Regular Army on March 13, 1865 for "good conduct and gallant service during the war". He remained in the post-war Regular Army, being promoted to full Captain on April 4, 1869, and serving until honorably mustered out on January 1, 1871.
Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. The son of Union Army Brigadier General Rufus King Sr., he served during the Civil War as a 1st Lieutenant in the 4th United States Regular Artillery. He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery at White Oak Swamp Bridge, Virginia on June 30, 1862, with his citation reading “This officer, when his captain was wounded, succeeded to the command of two batteries while engaged against a superior force of the enemy and fought his guns most gallantly until compelled to retire”. His artillery, consisting of 8 guns, fought off a concentrated Confederate attack on the rear guard of the Army of the Potomac, which had been retreating from Savage Station. They were the only obstacle preventing Confederate forces from rebuilding a bridge the Union Army had burned, preventing the Rebels from crossing over a river to destroy badly needed Union supplies. He and his men endured fire from over 30 Rebel artillery pieces for over 17 hours in their successful defense of the Union rear. His Medal was awarded to him on April 2, 1898. He had begun his Civil War served with an enlistment in the 7th New York State Militia, serving as a Private in Company F from April 26 to June 3, 1861. He was commissioned 1st Lieutenant in the 4th Artillery on August 5, 1861, serving with it through the balance of the war. He received the brevet of Captain, US Regular Army on June 30, 1862, and Major, US Regular Army on March 13, 1865 for "good conduct and gallant service during the war". He remained in the post-war Regular Army, being promoted to full Captain on April 4, 1869, and serving until honorably mustered out on January 1, 1871.
Bio by: RPD2
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