Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. A resident of Kalamazoo, Michigan at the start of the war, he enlisted at at 19 in the Union Army on June 9, 1862, and was mustered in as a Corporal in Company D, 17th Michigan Volunteer Infantry. Promoted to Sergeant on November 15, 1862, he was serving in that rank at the Battle of Spotsylvania, Virginia on May 12, 1864, and performed an act of bravery during combat that would garner him the CMOH. His citation reads "After the regiment was surrounded and all resistance seemed useless, fought single-handed for the colors and refused to give them up until he had appealed to his superior officers". His Medal would be issued him on July 27, 1896, thirty-two years later. He received promotions to 1st Sergeant on February 3, 1865 and to 2nd Lieutenant (of Company H) on April 25, 1865 before he was honorably mustered out on June 3, 1865. He was one of 8 17th Michigan soldiers to be awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery during the Civil War (the others being Private Frederick Alber, Private Joseph E. Brandle, Corporal John A. Falconer, Private Andrew J. Kelley, Sergeant Daniel McFall, Corporal Irwin Shepard, Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Swift).
Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. A resident of Kalamazoo, Michigan at the start of the war, he enlisted at at 19 in the Union Army on June 9, 1862, and was mustered in as a Corporal in Company D, 17th Michigan Volunteer Infantry. Promoted to Sergeant on November 15, 1862, he was serving in that rank at the Battle of Spotsylvania, Virginia on May 12, 1864, and performed an act of bravery during combat that would garner him the CMOH. His citation reads "After the regiment was surrounded and all resistance seemed useless, fought single-handed for the colors and refused to give them up until he had appealed to his superior officers". His Medal would be issued him on July 27, 1896, thirty-two years later. He received promotions to 1st Sergeant on February 3, 1865 and to 2nd Lieutenant (of Company H) on April 25, 1865 before he was honorably mustered out on June 3, 1865. He was one of 8 17th Michigan soldiers to be awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery during the Civil War (the others being Private Frederick Alber, Private Joseph E. Brandle, Corporal John A. Falconer, Private Andrew J. Kelley, Sergeant Daniel McFall, Corporal Irwin Shepard, Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Swift).
Bio by: RPD2
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