This is an alphabetical list (A to F) of Medal of Honor recipients during the Civil War. Many of the awards were for capturing or saving regimental flags. During the Civil War, regimental flags served as the rallying point for the unit, and guided the unit's movements. Loss of the flag could greatly disrupt a unit, and could have a greater effect than the death of the commanding officer.

Medal of Honor

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government and is bestowed on a member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself "…conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States…" Given the risk of life required for earning the medal, it is commonly presented posthumously.

Top – A B C D E F – External links __NOTOC__ Recipients are listed alphabetically by last name. Posthumous receipt is denoted by an asterisk. The rank indicated is the individual's rank at the time of their Medal of Honor action.

A Image Name Service Rank Unit/Command Place of action Date of action NotesArmyE-01Private 1st West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry RegimentNineveh, VirginiaCapture of State flag of 14th Virginia Cavalry (C.S.A.)Adams was born in Cabell County, West Virginia. While a Private in Company D of the 1st West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, he captured the flag of the 14th Virginia Cavalry during an engagement on November 12, 1864, at Nineveh in Virginia. His Medal of Honor was issued two weeks later, on November 26.ArmyO-01Second Lieutenant 19th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer InfantryBattle of Fredericksburg, VirginiaSeized the 2 colors from the hands of a corporal and a lieutenant as they fell mortally wounded, and with a color in each hand advanced across the field to a point where the regiment was reformed on those colors.NavyPaymaster's Steward Aboard off Cherbourg, FranceServed on board when she destroyed the off Cherbourg, France, 19 June 1864.ArmyE-01Private 17th Regiment Michigan Volunteer InfantryBattle of Spotsylvania Court House, VirginiaBravely rescued Lt. Charles H. Todd of his regiment who had been captured by a party of Confederates by shooting down one, knocking over another with the butt of his musket, and taking them both prisoners.ArmyE-01Private 47th Regiment Ohio Volunteer InfantryBattle of Vicksburg, Miss.Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party."ArmyE-04Corporal 39th Regiment Illinois Volunteer InfantryThird Battle of Petersburg, VirginiaGallantry as color bearer in the assault on Fort Gregg.ArmyE-01Private 16th Regiment New York Volunteer InfantryBattle of South Mountain, Md.Single-handed and slightly wounded he accosted a squad of 14 Confederate soldiers bearing the colors of the 16th Georgia Infantry (C.S.A.).ArmyE-04Corporal 1st Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer InfantryBattle of Gettysburg, Pa.When his regiment was falling back, this soldier, bearing the national color, returned in the face of the enemy's fire, pulled the regimental flag from under the body of its bearer, who had fallen, saved the flag from capture, and brought both colors off the field. ArmyO-02First Lieutenant 5th United States ArtilleryFirst Battle of Bull Run, VirginiaArtillery commander who stayed with his battery despite grave wounds.ArmyE-01Private 148th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer InfantryBattle of Spotsylvania Court House, VirginiaCapture of battle flag of 8th North Carolina (C.S.A.), being one of the foremost in the assault.ArmyE-01Private 142nd Regiment New York Volunteer InfantrySecond Battle of Fort Fisher, North CarolinaVoluntarily advanced with the head of the column and cut down the palisading.ArmyE-01Private 1st Regiment New York Volunteer CavalryBattle of Waynesboro, VirginiaCapture of unknown Confederate flag.ArmySergeant 15th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer CavalryCosby Creek, Tenn.Captured, single-handed, Confederate Brig. Gen. Robert B. Vance during a charge upon the enemy.ArmyE-01Private 18th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer InfantryBattle of Globe Tavern, VirginiaCapture of battle flag of 27th South Carolina (C.S.A.) and the color bearer.ArmyCaptain 51st Regiment Indiana Volunteer InfantryBattle of Nashville, Tenn.Led his regiment over 5 lines of the enemy's works, where he fell, severely wounded.ArmyE-01Private 31st Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer InfantryBattle of Bentonville, North CarolinaEntirely unassisted, brought from the field an abandoned piece of artillery and saved the gun from falling into the hands of the enemy.NavyQuartermaster Aboard and VariousServed on board and during various actions of those vessels.ArmyE-04Corporal 1st Regiment West Virginia Volunteer CavalryBattle of Appomattox Station, VirginiaCapture of Confederate flagNavyCabin Boy Aboard , First and Second Battles of Fort Fisher – Served on board during the capture of Fort Fisher and Wilmington, 24 December 1864 to 22 January 1865.ArmyE-04Corporal 12th Regiment West Virginia Volunteer InfantryThird Battle of Petersburg, VirginiaConspicuous gallantry as color bearer in the assault on Fort Gregg.ArmyO-02First Lieutenant 4th U.S. Colored InfantrySecond Battle of Petersburg, Virginia and Battle of Chaffin's Farm, Virginia and The first man of the Eighteenth Corps to enter the enemy's works at Petersburg, Virginia, 15 June 1864. Valiant service in a desperate assault at New Market Heights, Virginia, inspiring the Union troops by his example of steady courage.ArmyO-02First Lieutenant and Adjutant 59th Regiment Indiana Volunteer InfantrySecond Battle of Corinth, Miss.Voluntarily took command of another regiment, with the consent of one or more of his seniors, who were present, rallied the command and led it in the assault.ArmySergeant 96th Regiment New York Volunteer InfantryBattle of Chaffin's Farm, VirginiaGallantry in placing the colors of his regiment on the fort.ArmyE-04Corporal 30th Regiment Ohio Volunteer InfantryBattle of Vicksburg, Miss.Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party."ArmyE-01Private 83rd Regiment Indiana Volunteer InfantryBattle of Vicksburg, Miss.Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party."ArmyCaptain 5th U.S. CavalryDavenport Bridge, VirginiaBy a gallant charge against a superior force of the enemy, extricated his command from a perilous position in which it had been ordered.NavySignal Quartermaster Aboard , Battle of Fort Henry and Battle of Fort Donelson and For valor and devotion, serving most faithfully, effectively and valiantly.NavyQuarter Gunner Aboard , Red River CampaignAlthough on the sick list, Q.G. Asten courageously carried out his duties during the entire engagement.NavyYeoman Aboard , Battle of Mobile BayOn board the U.S.S. Richmond, Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864; commended for coolness and energy in supplying the rifle ammunition, which was under his sole charge, in the action in Mobile Bay on the morning of 5 August 1864.NavySeaman Aboard , Battle of Mobile BayBraved galling enemy fire to aid the rescue of crewmenArmyLieutenant1st New York Marine Artillery RegimentBattle of Tranter's Creek, North CarolinaHandled his battery with greatest coolness amidst the hottest fire.ArmySergeant 57th Regiment Ohio Volunteer InfantryBattle of Vicksburg, Miss.Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party."ArmyE-01Private 8th Missouri Volunteer InfantryBattle of Vicksburg, Miss.Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party."

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