Arlington National Cemetery is a United States military cemetery located in Arlington County, Virginia near The Pentagon and directly across the Potomac River from the Lincoln Memorial. The cemetery has graves for thousands of casualties and deceased veterans of the nation's conflicts, beginning with the American Civil War but includes reinterred dead from earlier wars as well. It was established during the Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, which had been the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna (Custis) Lee (a great-granddaughter of Martha Washington).
The Medal of Honor was created during the American Civil War and is the highest military decoration presented by the United States government to a member of its armed forces. The recipient must have distinguished themselves at the risk of their own life above and beyond the call of duty in action against an enemy of the United States. Due to the nature of this medal, it is commonly presented posthumously.[1]
Contents
Recipients
Image | Name | Service | Rank | Death date | Burial location | Comments[2][3] |
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Absalom Baird | Army | Brigadier General | June 14, 1905 | Section 1, lot 55 | Led a detached brigade charge |
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Frank Baldwin | Army | Captain | April 22, 1923 | Section 3, lot 1894 | First award: Risked his life to capture a Georgia regiments flag and taking two officers prisoner |
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Richard Napoleon Batchelder | Army | Lieutenant Colonel | January 4, 1901 | While in charge of his men and while fighting enemy forces ensured that his trains continued to run day and night to get their cargo to where it was needed. | |
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Jean J. Beaufort | Army | Corporal | September 15, 1897 | Section 13, lot 13784 | "...volunteered to go within the enemy's lines and at the head of a party of eight destroyed a signal station, thereby greatly aiding in the operations against Port Hudson that immediately followed." |
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Horatio L. Birdsall | Army | Sergeant | November 19, 1891 | Section 13, lot 6935 | For capturing the flagbearer |
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Zenas Bliss | Army | Colonel | January 2, 1900 | Section 1, lot 8-B | Risked his life by exposing himself to enemy fire and fired off several shots to encourage his regiment to lie down and protect themselves from enemy fire |
75px | John Gregory Bourke | Army | Private | June 8, 1896 | Section 1, site 32-A-ES | "gallantry in action" |
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Henry V. Boynton | Army | Lieutenant Colonel | June 3, 1905 | Section 2, lot 1096 | Led his regiment in the face of a severe fire of the enemy; was severely wounded |
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William H. Brown | Army | Landsman | November 5, 1896 | Remained at his post and performed his duties in the powder division throughout an attack on Fort Morgan which resulted in the surrender of the prize rebel ram Tennessee and in the damaging and destruction of batteries of the enemy fort. | |
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Charles E. Capehart | Army | Major | 1911 | Section 3, lot 2033-WS | Risked his life by charging down a mountain at night in a heavy rain causing the enemy to flee and allowing his men to capture the enemy wagon train and taking prisoners. |
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Henry Capehart | Army | Major | April 15, 1895 | Section 1, lot 140 | "Saved, under fire, the life of a drowning soldier." |
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Isaac S. Catlin | Army | Major | January 19, 1916 | Section 2, grave 3397 | Was wounded while attempting to rally disorganized troops, and although able to recover somewhat he was wounded again |
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Cecil Clay | Army | Captain | September 23, 1903 | Section 2 | Led his regiment in the charge, carrying the colors of another regiment, and when severely wounded in the right arm, incurring loss of same, he shifted the colors to the left hand, which also became disabled by a gunshot wound. |
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James Cook | Army | Bugler | August 3, 1915 | Section 17, grave 18613 | "Volunteered at the age of 15 years to act as a cannoneer, and as such volunteer served a gun under a terrific fire of the enemy." |
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Bartholomew Diggins | Army | Ordinary seaman | February 23, 1917 | Section 13, Site 5400-15 | Risked his life and remained at his post contributing to the success of the U.S.S. Hartford during the Battle of Mobile Bay |
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James R. Durham | Army | Second Lieutenant | August 6, 1904 | Section 3, Lot 1435 | "...led his command over the stone wall, where he was wounded." |
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Frederick Füger | Army | First Sergeant | October 13, 1913 | Section 1 Lot 511 | |
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Isaac Gause | Army | Corporal | April 23, 1920 | Section 17, Grave 19595 | Captured the colors of the 8th South Carolina Infantry while engaged in a reconnaissance mission along the Berryville and Winchester Pike. |
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Thomas P. Gere | Army | First Lieutenant | January 8, 1912 | Section 1, lot 361 | Captured the enemy battle flag |
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John C. Gilmore | Army | Major | December 22, 1922 | seized the colors of his regiment and gallantly rallied his men under a very severe fire | |
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Peter Grace | Army | Captain | March 27, 1914 | Section 3, Site lot 2556 | Single-handedly rescued a comrade from two Confederate guards during the Wilderness Campaign in Virginia |
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James H. Harris | Army | Sergeant | January 28, 1898 | Section 27, Lot 985-H, Map Grid BB-48.5 | Gallantry during the assault of Chaffin's Farm |
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John Porter Hatch | Army | Major general | April 12, 1901 | Section 1, Grave 133-C | "Was severely wounded while leading one of his brigades in the attack under a heavy fire from the enemy." |
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Milton M. Holland | Army | Sergeant Major | May 15, 1910 | Section 23, Grave 21713 | "Took command of Company C, after all the officers had been killed or wounded, and gallantly led it." |
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Charles H. Houghton | Army | Captain | April 6, 1914 | Section 3, Lot 2411-WS | Risked his life by repeatedly exposing himself to enemy fire |
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Thomas R. Kerr | Army | Captain | November 14, 1926 | Section 3, lot 1623 | After being most desperately wounded, he captured the colors of the 8th Virginia Cavalry (C.S.A.). |
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Dennis T. Kirby | Army | Major | April 18, 1922 | Section 1, Grave 334 | During the Battle of Vicksburg, Major Kirby seized the colors when the Color Bearer was killed and carried them himself in the assault. |
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Henry Ware Lawton | Army | Captain | December 19, 1899 | Section 2, Site 841 | "Led a charge of skirmishers against the enemy's rifle pits and stubbornly and successfully resisted 2 determined attacks of the enemy to retake the works." |
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Cyrus B. Lower | Army | Corporal | May 21, 1924 | Section 17, Lot 19971 | Volunteered to rejoin his command after being wounded |
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Arthur MacArthur, Jr. | Army | First Lieutenant | September 5, 1912 | Section 2 | "Seized the colors of his regiment at a critical moment and planted them on the captured works on the crest of Missionary Ridge" |
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Henry C. Merriam | Army | Lieutenant Colonel | November 12, 1912 | Section 1, Lot 114-13 | "Volunteered to attack the enemy's works in advance of orders and, upon permission being given, made a most gallant assault." |
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Nelson A. Miles | Army | Colonel | May 15, 1925 | Section 3, Lot 1873 | "Distinguished gallantry while holding with his command an advanced position against repeated assaults by a strong force of the enemy; was severely wounded." |
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Harry Jeremiah Parks | Army | Private | October 19, 1927 | Section 2, lot 1200 | "While alone and in advance of his unit and attempting to cut off the retreat of a supply wagon, he fought and sent to flight a Confederate color bearer. After capturing the color bearer and leaving him in the rear, he returned to the front and captured 3 more wagons and drivers." |
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George H. Plowman | Army | Sergeant Major | February 27, 1921 | Section 3 | "...recaptured the colors of the 2d Pennsylvania Provisional Artillery." |
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Edmund Rice | Army | Major | July 20, 1906 | Section 3 | "Conspicuous bravery on the third day of the battle on the countercharge against Pickett's division where he fell severely wounded within the enemy's lines." |
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Rufus Saxton | Army | Brigadier General | February 23, 1908 | "Distinguished gallantry and good conduct in the defense." | |
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John Schofield | Army | Major | March 4, 1906 | Section 2, Lot 1108 | Was conspicuously gallant in leading a regiment in a successful charge versus the enemy. |
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Theodore Schwan | Army | First Lieutenant | May 27, 1926 | Section 2, Lot 860 | Risked his life to drag a wounded and helpless officer to safety to prevent his capture while the rest of his regiment fell back. |
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Alexander Scott | Army | Corporal | May 27, 1923 | Section 17, Grave 20472 | Assumed carrying the national colors when the colors sergeant fell behind. |
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Daniel Sickles | Army | Major General | May 3, 1914 | Section 3, Grave 1906 | Risked his life by contesting the advance of the enemy and continuing to encourage his troops even after being severely wounded |
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James Smith | Army | Captain of the Forecastle | October 31, 1881 | Section 65, Site 1485 | Despite damage to his ship and the loss of several men Smith fought throughout a prolonged battle which resulted in the surrender of the rebel ram Tennessee and in the successful attacks carried out on Fort Morgan |
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Julius Stahel | Army | Major General | December 4, 1912 | Led his division into action until he was severely wounded. | |
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Wager Swayne | Army | Lieutenant Colonel | December 18, 1902 | Section 3, Lot 1406 | "Conspicuous gallantry in restoring order at a critical moment and leading his regiment in a charge." |
Walter Thorn | Army | Second Lieutenant | July 20, 1920 | Section 2, lot 3689-WH | After the fuze to the mined bulkhead had been lit, this officer, learning that the picket guard had not been withdrawn, mounted the bulkhead and at great personal peril warned the guard of its danger. | |
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Edwin M. Truell | Army | Private | October 12, 1907 | Section 13 Lot 5274-C | Although severely wounded in a charge, he remained with the regiment until again severely wounded, losing his leg. |
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John Tweedale | Army | Private | December 21, 1920 | Section 1, Lot 470 | Took the colors after 3 of the color guard had fallen, and although most instantly knocked down by a spent ball, immediately arose and bore the colors to the end of the engagement. |
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Wheelock G. Veazey | Army | Colonel | March 22, 1898 | Section 2, Grave 1026 | Rapidly assembled his regiment and charged the enemy's flank; charged front under heavy fire, and charged and destroyed a Confederate brigade, all this with new troops in their first battle. |
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John Wainwright | Army | First Lieutenant | April 15, 1915 | Section 2, Grave 1061 | Gallant and meritorious conduct, where, as first lieutenant, he commanded the regiment. |
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John F. Weston | Army | Major | August 3, 1917 | Section 2, lot 856 | This officer, with a small detachment, while en route to destroy steamboats loaded with supplies for the enemy, was stopped by an unfordable river, but with 5 of his men swam the river, captured 2 leaky canoes, and ferried his men across. He then encountered and defeated the enemy, and on reaching Wetumpka found the steamers anchored in midstream. By a ruse obtained possession of a boat, with which he reached the steamers and demanded and received their surrender. |
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Orlando B. Willcox | Army | Colonel | May 11, 1907 | Section 1, Grave 18 | Led repeated charges until wounded and taken prisoner. |
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Edward B. Williston | Army | First Lieutenant | April 24, 1920 | Section 1, Grave 422 | Distinguished gallantry. |
Notes
References
- ↑ "A Brief History—The Medal of Honor". Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). Department of Defense. August 8, 2006. http://www.defenselink.mil/faq/pis/med_of_honor.html. Retrieved December 27, 2010.
- ↑ "Medal of Honor recipients". American Medal of Honor recipients for the American Civil War (A-L). United States Army Center of Military History. June 8, 2009. http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/civwaral.html. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
- ↑ "Medal of Honor recipients". American Medal of Honor recipients for the American Civil War (M-Z). United States Army Center of Military History. June 8, 2009. http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/civwarmz.html. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
Bibliography
- "Medal of Honor recipients". Listing of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen who received the Medal of Honor during World War II. United States Army Center of Military History. June 8, 2009. http://www.history.army.mil/moh.html. Retrieved December 27, 2010.