John C. Curtis

John Calvin Curtis
File:Lt curtis.jpg
Born	(1845-04-17)April 17, 1845
Died	January 17, 1917(1917-01-17) (aged 71)
Place of birth	Bridgeport, Connecticut
Place of burial	Mountain Grove Cemetery, Bridgeport, Connecticut
Allegiance	United States of America Union
Service/branch	United States Army Union Army
Years of service	1861-1865
Rank	First Lieutenant
Unit	9th Connecticut Regiment Infantry
Battles/wars	American Civil War *Battle of Baton Rouge (1862)
Awards	Medal of Honor

John Calvin Curtis (April 17, 1845 – January 17, 1917) was a Lieutenant of the Ninth Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry in the American Civil War, and a Medal of Honor recipient.

Curtis was born on April 17, 1845 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He enlisted in the Ninth Regiment on August 17, 1861. On August 5, 1862, as a Sergeant-Major at age 17, he became instrumental in repulsing a Confederate attack aimed at recapturing Baton Rouge, Louisiana. During heavy firing, he "voluntarily sought the line of battle and alone and unaided captured 2 prisoners, driving them before him to regimental headquarters at the point of the bayonet." For this act, Curtis received the Medal of Honor on December 16, 1896, the only soldier from the Ninth to be so honored.

Curtis was later promoted to First Lieutenant. He died on January 17, 1917, and was buried at Mountain Grove Cemetery in Bridgeport.

Medal of Honor citation

He voluntarily sought the line of battle and alone and unaided captured 2 prisoners, driving them before him to regimental headquarters at the point of the bayonet.

See also

• List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: A–F

References

• "Bio info". http://www.jimlarkin.com/9thRegiment/soldiers/John_Curtis.htm. Retrieved September 29, 2010. 
• "Medal of Honor info". http://www.homeofheroes.com/moh/citations_1862_cwa/curtis_john.html. Retrieved September 29, 2010. 
• "MoH recipients' grave sites". http://www.homeofheroes.com/gravesites/states/connecticut.html. Retrieved September 29, 2010.