Twenty Union Army enlisted men and three officers were awarded the Medal of Honor for acts of valor during the battle, which ended inconclusively when the Union army moved further south. All of the recipients were from the infantry, although cavalry were present. With one exception, all of the awards were for actions on the first two days of the battle. In two cases, extra action places were listed in addition to the Battle of the Wilderness.
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.[3] A search for "Wilderness" under the National Park Service's Medal of Honor database returns 23 recipients, including two captains and a colonel.[4] Two soldiers have multiple places listed. In the case of Sergeant Abraham Cohn, actions at the Battle of the Wilderness and at the Siege of Petersburg are mentioned in his citation.[5] The citation for James Madison Cutts is for triple service.[6] It says "Gallantry in actions", and his Medal of Honor Action Place is Wilderness, Spotsylvania and Petersburg, Virginia.[7]
Voluntarily and under a heavy fire from the enemy, Brown three times crossed the field of battle with a load of ammunition in a blanket on his back, thus supplying the Federal forces, whose ammunition had nearly all been expended, and enabling them to hold their position until reinforcement arrived, when the enemy were driven from their position.[9]
At the risk of his own life, Burk went back while the rebels were still firing and, finding Col. Wheelock unable to move, alone and unaided, carried him off the field of battle.[12]
During Battle of the Wilderness rallied and formed, under heavy fire, disorganized and fleeing troops of different regiments. At Petersburg, Virginia, 30 July 1864, bravely and coolly carried orders to the advanced line under severe fire.[5] Action date for Battle of the Wilderness is listed in the Official Record as May 6, 1864.[13]
Running ahead of the line, under a concentrated fire, he shot the color bearer of a Confederate regiment on the works, thus contributing to the success of the attack.[15]
Stopped his men from retreating.[16] During a rout and while under orders to retreat, seized the colors, rallied the men, and drove the enemy back.[17]
Went out in front of the line under a fierce fire and, in the face of the rapidly advancing enemy, rescued the regimental flag with which the color bearer had fallen.[18]
This soldier, with one companion, would not retire when his regiment fell back in confusion after an unsuccessful charge, but instead advanced and continued firing upon the enemy until the regiment re-formed and regained its position.[20]
Stopped his men from retreating.[21] While color bearer, rallied the retreating troops and induced them to check the enemy's advance.[22] Official Record says "Gallantry in action...."[13]
Fought three Confederate soldiers while alone to capture their battle flag.[23] Capture of flag of 31st North Carolina (C.S.A.) in a personal encounter.[24] Listed for Medal of Honor in Official Record.[13]
Gallant services and soldierly qualities in voluntarily rejoining his command after having been wounded.[25] Listed in Official Record for Medal of Honor and wound described as received at the Wilderness, Virginia.[13]
Commanded company in absence of commissioned officer and shot in knee.[26] Voluntarily rushed back into the enemy's lines, took the colors from the color sergeant, who was mortally wounded, and, although himself wounded, carried them through the fight.[27] Official Record cites "Bravery in action".[28]
Under the heavy fire of the advancing enemy, picked up and carried several hundred yards to a place of safety a wounded officer of his regiment who was helpless and would otherwise have been burned in the forest.[30] The rescue was made near Saunders Field where fire, ignited by muzzle blasts, swept through the brush of the dry woods.[31][32]
Joined in charge after being ordered to hospital. Wounded five times at Spotsylvania.[35] Although assigned to other duty, he voluntarily joined his regiment in a charge and fought with it until severely wounded.[36]
With two companions, voluntarily went forward in the forest to reconnoiter the enemy's position; was fired upon and one of his companions disabled. Pvt. Young took the wounded man upon his back and, under fire, carried him to within the Union lines.[39]
Edmund English was a Union Army soldier who received the Medal of Honor for his bravery at the Battle of the Wilderness in the American Civil War.
The 1st West Virginia Cavalry Regiment served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Although it started slowly, it became one of the most active and effective of the West Virginia Civil War regiments—and had 14 Medal of Honor recipients, the most for any West Virginia regiment during the war. It was originally called the 1st Virginia Cavalry, not to be confused with the Confederate 1st Virginia Cavalry. Some reports added "Union," "Loyal" or "West" when identifying this regiment. After the Unionist state of West Virginia was officially admitted to the Union in 1863, the regiment became the 1st West Virginia Cavalry Regiment. The National Park Service identifies it as the 1st Regiment, West Virginia Cavalry.
Alfred B. Hilton was an African American 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.
Charles E. Morse was an American Civil War soldier who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during The Battle of the Wilderness in that war.
Thomas J. Higgins was a Union Army soldier during the American Civil War who was a recipient of America's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions at the Battle of Vicksburg.
Frederick A. Lyon was a soldier in the Union Army and a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions in the American Civil War.
The 125th New York Infantry Regiment was a volunteer regiment from Rensselaer County, New York, during the American Civil War. Formed during the summer of 1862, the unit was officially mustered into United States Service on 27–29 August 1862, by Col. George L. Willard. He had seen previous service in the Mexican War as well. Levin Crandall was commissioned lieutenant colonel, and James C. Bush major. The unit was mustered out on 5 June 1865.
The 60th Ohio Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
Captain James Madison Cutts Jr. was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Cutts received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the Battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania and Petersburg in Virginia in May and June 1864. He was honored with the award on 2 May 1891.
John Nicholas Coyne Jr. was a United States military officer who fought with the Union Army as a member of the 70th New York Infantry during the American Civil War. He received his nation's highest award for valor, the U.S. Medal of Honor, for capturing an enemy flag while engaged in hand-to-hand combat during the Battle of Williamsburg in Virginia on May 5, 1862. That flag was "[t]he first Confederate flag captured on the battle-field" by the Union Army during the war, according to historian Thomas S. Townsend. Coyne's medal was conferred on April 18, 1888.
Milton Matthews was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Matthews received his country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor. Matthews's medal was won for capturing the flag of the 7th Tennessee Infantry at the Third Battle of Petersburg, Virginia. He was one of six members of the regiment to earn that award that day. He was honored with the award on May 10, 1865. Matthews was born in Pittsburgh, where he entered the service, and died in Milwaukee.
Franklin Johndro was a Union Army soldier in the American Civil War who received the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.
Alexander H. Mitchell was a United States military officer who fought with the Union Army during the American Civil War as captain of Company A of the 105th Pennsylvania Infantry. Wounded multiple times in combat during the war, he was awarded the Kearny Cross for his distinguished service in the Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia in May 1863, and was then also awarded his nation’s highest award for valor, the U.S. Medal of Honor for his capture of a Confederate flag in hand-to-hand combat with the color-bearer of the 18th North Carolina Infantry during the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House on May 12, 1864.
James George Mitchell was a Pennsylvania state senator and United States soldier who fought with the Union Army during the American Civil War as a drummer boy and private with Company A of the 105th Pennsylvania Infantry. He served under his older brother, Alexander H. Mitchell (1840–1913), who was later awarded the U.S. Medal of Honor for valor.
The 5th New York Cavalry Regiment, also known as the 5th Regiment New York Volunteer Cavalry and nicknamed the "1st Ira Harris Guards", was a cavalry regiment of the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment had a good fighting reputation, and had important roles in the Battle of Hanover and the Battle of the Wilderness. It was present at nearly 175 battles and skirmishes, including Gettysburg, Opequon, and Cedar Creek. A majority of its fighting was in Virginia.
Alfred Jacob Sellers was an American soldier who fought for the Union Army during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for valor.
Peter F. Rafferty (1845-1910) was an American soldier, who served as a private in the Union Army. He received the Medal of Honor after being injured in the Battle of Malvern Hill.
John Calvin Matthews was a Union Army soldier in the American Civil War and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions at the April 19, 1865 Third Battle of Petersburg, Virginia.
Jacob E. Swap was a private in the United States Army who was awarded the Medal of Honor for actions performed on 5 May 1864 at the Battle of the Wilderness during the American Civil War.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
