Oscar Slagle (2 April 1844 - 12 April 1913) was a private in the United States Army who was awarded the Medal of Honor for gallantry at the Battle of Elk River in Tennessee during the American Civil War. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]
Slagle was born on 2 April 1844 in Fulton County, Ohio. His city of residence was listed as Manlius, Illinois. He married Lucy Jane Zerby in 1869 and fathered 5 children. He died on 12 April 1913 in Cullom, Illinois and was buried in Broughton Township Cemetery in Kempton, Illinois. [1] [2] [6] He was honored as a state Medal of Honor winner in 1999 by the 91st General Assembly of the State of Illinois. [5]
Slagle enlisted in the Army as a private on 4 August 1862 in Manlius and was mustered into Company D of the 104th Illinois Infantry on 27 August 1862. He was promoted to corporal at an unknown time. On 2 July 1863, at the Battle of Elk River, he was among a group of ten volunteers including leader George K. Marsh, Reuben Smalley, John Shapland, Charles Stacey, Richard J. Gage, and Samuel F. Holland, that successfully captured a Confederate defensive fortification while under heavy fire. All ten men would eventually win Medals of Honor. [2] [4] [6] Slagle received his medal on 30 October 1897. [2]
Slagle's Medal of Honor citation reads: [3]
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private Oscar Slagle, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 2 July 1863, while serving with Company D, 104th Illinois Infantry, in action at Elk River, Tennessee. Private Slagle voluntarily joined a small party that, under a heavy fire, captured a stockade and saved the bridge.
— Russel A. Alger, Secretary of War
Slagle was mustered out of the Army on 6 June 1865 at Washington D.C. [6]
Richard Conner was an American Civil War Union Army soldier who received the Medal of Honor for his bravery in action.
The 104th Ohio Infantry Regiment, sometimes 104th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was an infantry regiment in the Union army during the American Civil War. It played a conspicuous role at the Battle of Franklin during the 1864 Franklin–Nashville campaign, where six members later received the Medal of Honor, most for capturing enemy flags.
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.
The 55th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment is sometimes referred to as the Canton Rifles or the Douglas Brigade 2nd Regiment.
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 Alber was a United States soldier who fought for the Union Army as a member of Company A, 17th Michigan Infantry during the American Civil War. He was awarded his nation's highest military honor, the U.S. Medal of Honor, on July 30, 1896, for valor during the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House in 1864.
George H. Eldridge was an American soldier in the U.S. Army who served with the 24th Michigan Volunteer Infantry in the American Civil War and the 6th U.S. Cavalry during the Texas–Indian Wars. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry fighting the Kiowa Indians and Chief Kicking Bird at the Battle of the Little Wichita River on July 12, 1870.
The 104th Illinois Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
William Garrett Whitney was an American Medal of Honor recipient who served in the Union Army during the American Civil War and was awarded for his actions during the Battle of Chickamauga. He served in Company B, 11th Michigan Infantry, enlisting August 24, 1861 as a sergeant. Whitney was 21 years old at the time of enlistment and was from Allen, Michigan. There were at least 53 men who served from Allen.
John H. Haight was a United States soldier who fought with the Union Army during the American Civil War as a member of the 72nd New York Infantry. He was recognized with his nation's highest honor for valor, the U.S. Medal of Honor, for the extraordinary heroism he displayed in 1862 during the Battle of Williamsburg, Manassas Station Operations, and Second Battle of Bull Run.
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.
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.
Charles Franklin Rand was an American Civil War Medal of Honor recipient. He received the award for his actions at the Battle of Blackburn's Ford, Virginia, when he stayed in action when a part of his regiment broke in disorder; he then joined another company and fought with it through the remainder of the engagement. Following the war he earned a medical degree and worked as a physician in Batavia, New York. Rand is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Frank Stolz was a private in the United States Army who was awarded the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the American Civil War. He was awarded the medal on July 9, 1894, for actions performed during the Battle of Vicksburg in 1863.
George Stokes was a corporal in the United States Army who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Honor for gallantry during the American Civil War. Stokes was awarded the medal on 24 February 1865 for actions performed at the Battle of Nashville in Tennessee on 16 December 1864.
David Jones was an American soldier and recipient of the Medal of Honor who received the award for his actions in the American Civil War.
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.
Henry C. Slusher was a private in the United States Army who was awarded the Medal of Honor for actions performed on 11 September 1863 at Moorefield, West Virginia.