The Battle of Sailor's Creek (also known as Sayler's Creek, Hillsman Farm, or Lockett Farm) was fought on April 6, 1865, near Farmville, Virginia, as part of the Appomattox Campaign, in the final days of the American Civil War. It was the last major engagement between the armies of Gen. Robert E. Lee and Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant before the capitulation of Lee's Confederate army at Appomattox Court House three days later.
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Medal of Honor
Main article: Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government and is bestowed on a member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself "…conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States…" Due to the nature of this medal, it is commonly presented posthumously.[1]
Recipients
| Name | Service | Rank | Date | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewis F. Brest | Army | Private | Apr 6, 1865 | Capture of flag. |
| Andrew Bringle | Army | Corporal | Apr 6, 1865 | Charged the enemy and assisted Sgt. Norton in capturing a fieldpiece and 2 prisoners. |
| Ivers S. Calkin | Army | First Sergeant | Apr 6, 1865 | Capture of flag of 18th Virginia Infantry (C.S.A.). |
| John Chapman | Army | Private | Apr 6, 1865 | Captured the enemies flag at a battle in Sailors Creek Va |
| Albert A. Clapp | Army | First Sergeant | Apr 6, 1865 | Capture of battle flag of the 8th Florida Infantry (C.S.A.). |
| Francis M. Cunningham | Army | First Sergeant | Apr 6, 1865 | Capture of battle flag of 12th Virginia Infantry (C.S.A.) in hand-to-hand battle while wounded. |
| Thomas W. Custer | Army | Second Lieutenant | Apr 6, 1865 | 2nd award: Captured two enemy flags |
| Thomas Davis | Army | Private | Apr 6, 1865 | Capture of flag. |
| Warren C. Dockum | Army | Private | Apr 6, 1865 | Capture of flag of Savannah Guards (C.S.A.), after 2 other men had been killed in the effort. |
| Samuel E. Eddy | Army | Private | Apr 6, 1865 | Saved the life of the adjutant of his regiment by voluntarily going beyond the line and there killing one of the enemy then in the act of firing upon the wounded officer. Was assailed by several of the enemy, run through the body with a bayonet, and pinned to the ground, but while so. situated he shot and killed his assailant. |
| Coron D. Evans | Army | Private | Apr 6, 1865 | Capture of flag of 26th Virginia Infantry (C.S.A.). |
| George W. Ford | Army | First Lieutenant | Apr 6, 1865 | Capture of flag. |
| Benjamin Gifford | Army | Private | Apr 6, 1865 | Capture of flag. |
| James H. Gribben | Army | First Lieutenant | Apr 6, 1865 | Capture of flag of 12th Virginia Infantry (C.S.A.). |
| Asel Hagerty | Army | Private | Apr 6, 1865 | Capture of flag. |
| Harris S. Hawthorne | Army | Corporal | Apr 6, 1865 | Captured the Confederate Gen. G. W. Custis Lee. |
| Asbury F. Haynes | Army | Corporal | Apr 6, 1865 | Capture of flag |
| Heinrich Hoffman | Army | Corporal | Apr 6, 1865 | Capture of flag. |
| William T. Holmes | Army | Private | Apr 6, 1865 | Capture of flag of 27th Virginia Infantry (C.S.A.). |
| William Houlton | Army | Commissary Sergeant | Apr 6, 1865 | Capture of flag. |
| John Hughey | Army | Corporal | Apr 6, 1865 | Capture of flag of 38th Virginia Infantry (C.S.A.). |
| Absalom Jordan | Army | Corporal | Apr 6, 1865 | Capture of flag. |
| Samuel P. Kenyon | Army | Private | Apr 6, 1865 | Capture of battle flag |
| John Keough | Army | Corporal | Apr 6, 1865 | Capture of battle flag of 50th Georgia Infantry (C.S.A.). |
| Harry Kline | Army | Private | Apr 6, 1865 | Capture of battle flag. |
| Aaron S. Lanfare | Army | First Lieutenant | Apr 6, 1865 | Capture of flag of 11th Florida Infantry (C.S.A.). |
| Smith Larimer | Army | Corporal | Apr 6, 1865 | Capture of flag of General Kershaw's headquarters. |
| Charles P. Mattocks | Army | Major | Apr 6, 1865 | Displayed extraordinary gallantry in leading a charge of his regiment which resulted in the capture of a large number of prisoners and a stand of colors. |
| Samuel O. McElhlnny | Army | Private | Apr 6, 1865 | Capture of flag. |
| Walter F. McWhorter | Army | Commissary Sergeant | Apr 6, 1865 | Capture of flag of 6th Tennessee Infantry (C.S.A.) |
| John W. Menter | Army | Sergeant | Apr 6, 1865 | Capture of flag. |
| Frank Miller | Army | Private | Apr 6, 1865 | Capture of flag of 25th Battalion Virginia Infantry (C.S.A.); was taken prisoner, but successfully retained his trophy until recaptured. |
| William Morris | Army | Sergeant | Apr 6, 1865 | Capture of flag of 40th Virginia Infantry (C.S.A.).[2] |
| Walter L. Mundell | Army | Corporal | Apr 6, 1865 | Capture of flag. |
| Edwin M. Neville | Army | Captain | Apr 6, 1865 | Capture of the enemy flag |
| Elliott M. Norton | Army | Second Lieutenant | Apr 6, 1865 | Rushed ahead of his column and captured the flag of the 44th Tennessee Infantry (C.S.A.). |
| John R. Norton | Army | Lieutenant | Apr 6, 1865 | Capture of the enemy flag |
| Thomas Parker | Army | Corporal | Apr 2, 1865 and Apr 6, 1865 | Planted the first color on the enemy's works. Carried the regimental colors over the creek after the regiment had broken and been repulsed. |
| Irvin C. Payne | Army | Corporal | Apr 6, 1865 | Capture of Virginia State colors. |
| George J. Pitman | Army | Sergeant | Apr 6, 1865 | Capture of flag of the Sumter Heavy Artillery (C.S.A.). |
| William Porter | Army | Sergeant | Apr 6, 1865 | Among the first to check the enemy's countercharge. |
| William R. Richardson | Army | Private | Apr 6, 1865 | Having been captured and taken to the rear, made his escape rejoined the Union lines, and furnished information of great importance as to the enemy's position and the approaches thereto. |
| Rudolph Riddell | Army | Lieutenant | Apr 6, 1865 | Captured the flag of the 6th Alabama Infantry (C.S.A.). |
| Edwin F. Savacool* | Army | Captain | Apr 6, 1865 | Capture of flag, during which he was wounded and died several days later in Washington, D.C. |
| Emisire Shahan | Army | Corporal | Apr 6, 1865 | Capture of flag of 76th Georgia Infantry (C.S.A.). |
| William Shepherd | Army | Private | Apr 6, 1865 | Capture of flag. |
| John Simmons | Army | Private | Apr 6, 1865 | Capture of flag. |
| David Southard | Army | Sergeant | Apr 6, 1865 | Capture of flag; and was the first man over the works in the charge. |
| Charles A. Taggart | Army | Private | Apr 6, 1865 | Capture of flag. |
| Charles Titus | Army | Sergeant | Apr 6, 1865 | Was among the first to check the enemy's countercharge. |
| Charles E. Wilson | Army | Sergeant | Apr 6, 1865 | Charged the enemy's works, colors in hand, and had 2 horses shot from under him. |
| Daniel A. Woods | Army | Private | Apr 6, 1865 | Capture of flag of 18th Florida Infantry (C.S.A.). |
Notes
- ↑ Defense link Medal of Honor history
- ↑ "William Powers Morris". MilitaryTimes Hall of Valor. Gannett Government Media. http://projects.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=3357. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
References
- "Who's Who list of Marines". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. History Division, United States Marine Corps. http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who.htm. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
- "Medal of Honor recipients". Medal of Honor statistics. United States Army Center of Military History. July 16, 2007. http://www.history.army.mil//mohstats.htm. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
- "Medal of Honor recipients". American Civil War (A-L). United States Army Center of Military History. July 16, 2007. http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/civwaral.html. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
- "Medal of Honor recipients". Medal of Honor citations. United States Army Center of Military History. June 8, 2009. http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/civwarmz.html. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
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