Robert F. Shipley

Last updated
First Sergeant

Robert Frank Shipley
Robert Frank Shipley 1865 public domain USGov.jpg
Born8 May 1838
Wayne County, New York
Died29 April 1903 (aged 64)
Mendota, Illinois
Buried
Restland Cemetery, Mendota, Illinois
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchArmy
Years of service1862-1865
RankFirst Sergeant
UnitCompany C, 44th New York Infantry

Company A, 140th New York Infantry

Company I, 5th Veteran New York Infantry
Battles/warsFive Forks, Virginia
AwardsMedal of Honor

Robert Frank Shipley (8 May 1838 - 29 April 1903) was a first sergeant in the United States Army who was awarded the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the American Civil War. Shipley was awarded the medal on 10 May 1865 for actions performed at the Battle of Five Forks in Virginia on 1 April 1865. [1] [2] [3] [4]

Contents

Personal life

Shipley was born on 8 May 1838 in Wayne County, New York to parents James Shipley and Hannah Sampson Shipley. He was one of four children. He married Almeda Cairns Shipley and fathered two children. He died on 29 April 1903 in Mendota, Illinois and was buried in Restland Cemetery in Mendota. [1] [2] [4]

Military service

Shipley enlisted in the Army as a corporal on 14 August 1862 at Penn Yan, New York, and was mustered into Company C of the 44th New York Infantry on 3 October 1862. He was promoted to sergeant on 15 November 1863 and to first sergeant at an unknown time later. On 11 October 1864, he was transferred to Company A of the 140th New York Infantry. On 1 April 1865, during a charge on Confederate defenses, Shipley encountered a color bearer of the 9th Virginia Infantry and secured the flag by bayonetting its holder. [4]

Shipley'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 First Sergeant Robert F. Shipley, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 1 April 1865, while serving with Company A, 140th New York Infantry, in action at Five Forks, Virginia. First Sergeant Shipley captured the flag of the 9th Virginia Infantry (Confederate States of America) in hand-to-hand combat.

E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War

Shipley was transferred to Company I of the 5th New York Veteran Infantry on 31 May 1865 and was mustered out of the Army at Hart's Island, New York Harbor, New York on 21 August 1865. [4]

Related Research Articles

1st West Virginia Cavalry Regiment United States Civil War military unit

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.

The 97th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was instrumental in the Federal campaign to reclaim the Mississippi River for the Union, participating in the siege of Vicksburg and battles leading up to it in Mississippi. Moving down the river after the siege, it participated in efforts to wrest control of the bayou area, then retake Mobile Bay, culminating in the bloody Battle of Fort Blakeley hours after Lee's surrender at Appomattox.

Augusto Rodríguez (soldier) United States Army Lieutenant

Lieutenant Augusto Rodríguez, was a Puerto Rican who served as an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Rodríguez served in the defenses of Washington, D.C., and led his men in the Battles of Fredericksburg and Wyse Fork.

The 47th Ohio Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment had 14 Medal of Honor recipients, the most of any Ohio regiment during the war.

Patrick H. McEnroe

Patrick H. McEnroe was a Union Army soldier during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the Battle of Opequon more commonly called the Third Battle of Winchester, Virginia on September 19, 1864.

David H. Scofield

David H. Scofield was a Union Army soldier during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the Battle of Cedar Creek fought near Middletown, Virginia on October 19, 1864. The battle was the decisive engagement of Major General Philip Sheridan’s Valley Campaigns of 1864 and was the largest battle fought in the Shenandoah Valley.

Lieutenant Henry G. Bonebrake was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Bonebrake received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action during the Battle of Five Forks in Virginia on 1 April 1865. He was honored with the award on 3 May 1865.

Albert E. Fernald

First Lieutenant Albert E. Fernald was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Fernald received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action during the Battle of Five Forks in Virginia on 1 April 1865. He was honored with the award on 10 May 1865.

Private David Edwards was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Edwards received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action during the Battle of Five Forks in Virginia on 1 April 1865. He was honored with the award on 10 May 1865.

Corporal August Kauss was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Kauss received his country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor. Kauss's medal was won for capturing a flag at the Battle of Five Forks in Virginia on April 1, 1865. He was honored with the award on May 10, 1865.

Lester G. Hack American Civil War recipient of the Medal of Honor

Lester Goodel Hack was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Hack received his country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor. Hack's medal was won for his actions at the Third Battle of Petersburg in Virginia, where he captured the flag of the Confederate 23rd Tennessee Infantry on April 2, 1865. He was honored with the award on May 10, 1865.

Franklin Hogan was a decorated hero of the Union Army in the American Civil War. He was born in York, Pennsylvania and lived in Adrian, Michigan.

Stephen Rought Medal of Honor recipient

Stephen Rought was a sergeant 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 1 December 1864 for actions performed in May 1864 in the Battle of the Wilderness in Virginia.

Emisire Shahan

Emisire Shahan was a sergeant in the United States Army who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Honor for gallantry during the American Civil War. Shahan was awarded the medal on 3 May 1865 for actions performed at the Battle of Sailor's Creek in Virginia on 6 April 1865.

Elisha B. Seaman was a corporal in the United States Army who was awarded the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the American Civil War. Seaman was awarded the medal on 24 June 1892 for actions performed at the Battle of Chancellorsville in Virginia on 2 May 1863.

George J. Shopp

George J. Shopp was a corporal in the United States Army who was awarded the Medal of Honor for gallantry at the Battle of Five Forks in Virginia during the American Civil War.

Frank Shubert was a second lieutenant in the United States Army who was awarded the Medal of Honor for gallantry at the Battle of Petersburg in Virginia during the American Civil War.

Joseph Kemp (Medal of Honor)

Joseph Bell Kemp was an American recipient of the Medal of Honor and soldier in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

William H. Mathews (soldier) Union Army Medal of Honor recipient

William Mathews (1844-1928) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Mathews enlisted in 1861 at age 17 in Baltimore, Maryland, under the name Henry Sivel. He served during the Civil War in Company E, 2nd Maryland Volunteer Infantry, rising from Private to commander of Company E. He was promoted to Sergeant on May 15, 1863, and to First Sergeant on June 22, 1863. On January 1, 1864, he reenlisted as a Veteran Volunteer retaining hos First Sergeant rank. He was commissioned as a First Lieutenant, October 24, 1864, and a captain, June 27, 1865. He was wounded twice, and captured once but quickly paroled. He mustered out of service on July 17, 1865.

John C. Matthews Union Army Medal of Honor recipient

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.

References

  1. 1 2 "Robert Frank Shipley (1838-1903) - Find A Grave..." www.findagrave.com. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
  2. 1 2 "Robert F Shipley | U.S. Civil War | U.S. Army | Medal of Honor Recipient". Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
  3. 1 2 "Robert Shipley - Recipient -". valor.militarytimes.com. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "American Civil War Research Database". www.civilwardata.com. Retrieved 2022-01-06.