Medal of Honor Recipients
This Medal of Honor was the first ever awarded to an American soldier. It was presented to Private Jacob Parrott on March 25, 1863, by President Abraham Lincoln. Parrott was a Private, Company K, 33d Ohio Infantry and one of Andrews' Raiders. One of the 19 of 22 men (including 2 civilians) who, by direction of General Mitchell penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory and captured a railroad train at Big Shanty, Ga., in an attempt to destroy the bridges and tracks between Chattanooga and Atlanta.
West Point Cadets from the Class of May and June 1861, and the Class of 1862 who received the Medal of Honor for their valor, leadership, and sacrifice during the Civil War. Citations gleaned from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society
First Lieutenant Adelbert Ames
Adelbert Ames was the unit commander of the 5th U.S. Artillery. He was recognized for remaining on the battlefield at Bull Run, July 21, 1861, in command of a section of Griffin's Battery, directing its fire after being severely wounded and refusing to leave the field until too weak to sit upon the caisson where he had been placed by men of his command.
His highest rank was Brevet Major General.
Major Eugene B. Beaumont
Beaumont was an Assistant Adjutant General and unit commander of the Cavalry Corps, Army of the Mississippi. As a lieutenant, Beaumont obtained permission from the corps commander to advance upon the enemy's position with the 4th U.S. Cavalry at Harpeth River, TN on December 17, 1864, where he led an attack on a battery, dispersing the enemy and captured their guns. At Selma, AL, April 2, 1865, Beaumont, at the head of his regiment, charged into the second and last line of the enemy's works.
His highest rank was Colonel.
First Lieutenant Samuel N. Benjamin
Benjamin distinguished himself as an artillery officer June 1861 through May 1864; Bull Run to Spotsylvania, VA.
His highest rank was Brevet Lieutenant Colonel.
First Lieutenant Alonzo H. Cushing
Cushing distinguished himself by acts of bravery above and beyond the call of duty while serving as an artillery commander in Battery A, 4th U.S. Artillery, Army of the Potomac at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on July 3rd, 1863. That morning, Confederate forces led by General Robert E. Lee began cannonading Cushing’s position on Cemetery Ridge and using field glasses, he directed fire for his own artillery battery. Despite being struck in the shoulder by a shell fragment, he refused to leave the battlefield, and as he continued to direct fire, he was struck again, this time in the abdomen. Still refusing to abandon his command, he held the line and continued to direct devastating fire into oncoming forces. As the Confederate forces closed in, Cushing was shot in the mouth by an enemy bullet and fell dead beside his gun. His extraordinary heroism and fearless leadership inflicted severe casualties upon Confederate forces and opened wide gaps in their lines, directly impacting the Union force’s ability to repel Pickett’s charge. His bravery was not recognized until over 150 years after his death when in 2014 his medal was posthumously received by his family.
Captain Henry Algernon Du Pont
On October 19, 1864, at Cedar Creek, VA when the Union line had been broken, Du Pont encouraged his men of the 5th U.S. Artillery, to stand to their guns, checking the advance of the enemy and brought off most of his pieces.
His highest rank was Brevet Lieutenant Colonel.
First Lieutenant George Lewis Gillespie Jr.
Gillespie, a U.S. Corps of Engineers officer, served in successful bridging operations and defense of important river crossings during the 1862-1863 campaigns in the Eastern Theater. During the Overland Campaign, Bethesda Church, VA, May 31, 1864, his daring crossing of enemy lines to report enemy movements earned him the Medal of Honor. Gillespie remained in the Army after the war and went on to serve with distinction throughout the rest of the nineteenth century including, among other work, designing lighthouses and harbor fortifications.
He became Chief of Engineers at the rank of Brigadier General in 1891, and finally retired in 1905.
Colonel Guy V. Henry, Sr.
Henry received the Medal of Honor on December 5, 1893 for his Civil War service as commander of the 40th Massachusetts Infantry brigade at the Battle of Cold Harbor, VA, June 1, 1864 where he led leading the assaults of his brigade upon the enemy's works at Cold Harbor, Viginia, and where he had two horses shot under him.
His highest rank was Major General.