| Milton Murray Holland | |
|---|---|
|
File:Milton M Holland.jpg Sergeant Major Milton M. Holland | |
| Born | August 1, 1844 |
| Died | May 15, 1910 (aged 65) |
| Place of birth | Austin, Texas |
| Place of burial | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Allegiance |
United States of America Union |
| Service/branch |
United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1862 - 1865 |
| Rank | Sergeant Major |
| Unit | 5th U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment |
| Battles/wars |
American Civil War *Battle of Chaffin's Farm |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
Milton Murray Holland (August 1, 1844 – May 15, 1910) was a Union Army soldier during the American Civil War and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions at the Battle of Chaffin's Farm.
Biography[]
Holland was born as the son of Bird Holland, a white slaveowner (killed in action at the Battle of Mansfield) and an African-American slave.[1] He joined the Army from Athens, Ohio. At the Athens County Fairgrounds he signed to the recruitment rolls 149 young black men and raised what was to become Company C of the 5th United States Colored Infantry.[2] He was serving as a Sergeant Major in the 5th USCI when his unit participated in the Battle of Chaffin's Farm on September 29, 1864 in Virginia. Three days before the end of the war, on April 6, 1865, he was issued the Medal of Honor for his actions at Chaffin's Farm.
Holland's wife was Virginia W. Dickey. Milton Holland died from a heart attack at the age of 65 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington County, Virginia.
Only known wartime photo of Milton M. Holland in uniform
Medal of Honor citation[]
- Rank and organization: Sergeant Major, 5th U.S. Colored Troops.
- Place and date: At Chaffin's Farm, Virginia, September 29, 1864.
- Entered service at: Athens, Ohio.
- Born: 1844, Austin, Texas.
- Date of issue: April 6, 1865.
Citation:
Took command of Company C, after all the officers had been killed or wounded, and gallantly led it.
See also[]
- List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: G–L
- List of African American Medal of Honor recipients
References[]
- ↑ http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=13476226
- ↑ From the Virginia Plantation to the National Capitol, by John Mercer Langston, pp 212-217
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.
- "Milton M. Holland". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21654. Retrieved 2007-01-03.
- "Civil War Medal of Honor recipients (A-L)". Medal of Honor citations. United States Army Center of Military History. 2005-04-27. http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/civwaral.html. Retrieved 2007-01-03.
Further reading[]
- Melvin Claxton and Mark Puls, Uncommon valor : a story of race, patriotism, and glory in the final battles of the Civil War, (Wiley, 2006) (ISBN 0471468231)
The original article can be found at Milton M. Holland and the edit history here.