The Congressional Medal of Honor

The Congressional Medal of Honor
The most prestigious honor that our country can bestow he most prestigious honor that our country can bestow on an individual. It signifies extraordinary courage, dedication, and self-sacrifice, and few ever get the chance to earn it. he most prestigious honor that our country can bestow on an individual. It signifies extraordinary courage, dedication, and self-sacrifice, and few ever get the chance to earn it.
Since its inception, approximately 3,400 medals have been awarded. During the hard-fought battles of the American Civil War, 14 members of the Excelsior Brigade received the Congressional Medal of Honor for extraordinary valor.
The most prestigious honor that our country can bestow to an individual. It signifies extraordinary courage, dedication, and self-sacrifice, and few ever get the chance to earn it.
Since its inception, approximately 3,400 medals have been awarded. During the hard-fought battles of the American Civil War, 14 members of the Excelsior Brigade received the Congressional Medal of Honor for extraordinary valor.

You can find more information on the medal itself, and its recipients, by visiting the Congressional Medal of Honor Society's web site.

The Excelsior Brigade Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients

Command:

SICKLES, Daniel Edgar
Rank and organization: Major General, 3rd Army Corps, Commanding.
Place and date: Gettysburg, PA, July 2, 1863.
Entered service at: New York, New York
Born: October 20, 1819
Died: May 1914 in New York, NY. Buried Arlington National Cemetery., (grave3-1906) has MH headstone. Citation: For most conspicuous gallantry at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863.

70th New York:

COYNE, John Nicholas
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company B, 70th New York Infantry.
Place and date: At Williamsburg, Va., 5 May 1862.
Entered service at: New York, N.Y.
Born: 14 November 1839, New York, N.Y.
Died: In East Orange, NJ on 4 March 1907 and is buried at the Green Lawn Cem., Brooklyn- no MH headstone.
Date of issue: 18 April 1888.
Citation: Capture of a flag after a severe hand-to-hand contest; was mentioned in orders for his gallantry.

MURPHY, Michael C.
Rank and organization: Colonel, 170th New York Infantry.
Place and date: At North Anna River, Va., 24 May 1864.
Entered service at: New York, N.Y.
Birth: Limerick, Ireland.
Died: 4 March 1903 and buried at Kensico Cem., Valhalla, NY- no MH headstone.
Date of issue: 15 January 1897.
Citation: This officer, commanding the regiment, kept it on the field exposed to the fire of the enemy for 3 hours without being able to fire one shot in return because of the ammunition being exhausted.

72nd New York:

BROWN, Henri Le Fevre
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company B, 72d New York Infantry.
Place and date: At Wilderness, Va., 6 May 1864.
Entered service at: Ellicott, N.Y.
Birth: Jamestown, N.Y., 3 May 1842.
Died: 29 April 1910. Buried Lakeview Cemetery, Jamestown, NY-no MH headstone.
Date of issue: 23 June 1896.
Citation: Voluntarily and under a heavy fire from the enemy, 3 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.

HAIGHT, John H.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company G, 72d New York Infantry.
Place and date: At Williamsburg, Va., 5 May 1862. At Bristoe Station, Va., 27 August 1862. At Manassas, Va., 29-30 August 1862.
Entered service at: Westfield, N.Y.
Born: 1 July 1841, Westfield, N.Y.
Died: 8 April 1919. Buried East Ripley Cem. (MH) Ripley, NY. Was a POW.
Date of issue: 8 June 1888.
Citation: At Williamsburg, Va., voluntarily carried a severely wounded comrade off the field in the face of a large force of the enemy; in doing so was himself severely wounded and taken prisoner. Went into the fight at Bristoe Station, Va., although severely disabled. At Manassas, volunteered to search the woods for the wounded.

HORAN, Thomas
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company E, 72d New York Infantry.
Place and date: At Gettysburg, Pa., 2 July 1863.
Entered service at: Dunkirk, N.Y.
Birth: Dunkirk, New York.
Died: Madison, IL,1902. Buried St. Mary's Cem., Dunkirk, NY-no MH headstone.
Date of issue: 5 April 1898.
Citation: In a charge of his regiment this soldier captured the regimental flag of the 8th Florida Infantry (C.S.A.).

YOUNG, James Marvin
Rank and organization: Private, Company B, 72d New York Infantry.
Place and date: At Wilderness. Va., 6 May 1864.
Entered service at: Chautauqua County, N.Y.
Birth: Elliott, Erie Co., NY, 2 Dec 1843.
Died: Jamestown, NY 30 Nov 1913. Buried Lakeview Cem., Jamestown, NY- no MH headstone.
Date of issue: 2 April 1898.
Citation: With 2 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 within the Union lines.

73rd New York:

JONES, William
Rank and organization: First Sergeant, Company A, 73d New York Infantry.
Place and date: At Spotsylvania, Va., 12 May 1864.
Entered service at: New York, N.Y.
Birth: Wicklow, Ireland.
Died: Killed in Action 12, May 1864. Buried at Fredericksburg National Military Park. Grave 2448-(MH)
Date of issue: 1 December 1864; Medal awarded posthumously.
Citation: Capture of flag of 65th Virginia Infantry (C.S.A.).

SCHLACHTER, Philip
Rank and organization: Private, Company F, 73d New York Infantry.
Place and date: At Spotsylvania, Va., 12 May 1864.
Entered service at: New York, NY.
Birth: Germany, 17 June, 1841.
Died: In Sturgis, MI, 9 September 1923. Buried in Oakland Cem., Sturgis, MI
Citation: Capture of flag of the 15th Louisiana Infantry (C.S.A..)

WILSON, Christopher W.
Rank and organization: Private, Company E, 73d New York Infantry.
Place and date: At Spotsylvania. Va., 12 May 1864.
Entered service at: West Meridian, Conn.
Birth: Ireland, 1846
Died: Seacliff, NY 12 September 1916. Buried at the Evergreen Cem., Brooklyn, NY.
Date of issue: 30 December 1898.
Citation: Took the flag from the wounded color bearer and carried it in the charge over the Confederate works, in which charge he also captured the colors of the 56th Virginia (C.S.A.) bringing off both flags in safety.

74th New York:

BRANNIGAN, Felix
Rank and organization: Private, Company A, 74th New York Infantry. Highest rank, 1st. Lt.
Place and date: At Chancellorsville, Va., 2 May 1863.
Entered service at: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Birth: Ireland, 1844Died: 10 June 1907. Buried in Arlington National Cem.(3-1642).
Date of issue: 29 June 1866.
Citation: Volunteered on a dangerous service and brought in valuable information.

GION, Joseph
Rank and organization: Private, Company A, 74th New York Infantry.
Place and date: At Chancellorsville, Va., 2 May 1863.
Entered service at: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Birth: Alsac-Lorraine area, Germany 1826.
Died: Chartiers Township, PA 16 January 1889. Buried St. Martin's Cem., Pittsburgh.
Date of issue: 26 November 1884.
Citation: Voluntarily and under heavy fire advanced toward the enemy's lines and secured valuable information.

JACOBSON, Eugene Phillip
Rank and organization: Sergeant Major, 74th New York Infantry. Highest rank: Brevet Captain, US Volunteers.
Place and date: At Chancellorsville, Va., 2 May 1863.
Entered service at: New York, N.Y.
Birth: Prussia 3 May 1841.
Died: In Denver, CO 12 April 1881. Buried Greenmountain Cem., Baltimore.
Date of issue: 29 March 1865.
Citation: Bravery in conducting a scouting party in front of the enemy.

LUTY, Gotlieb
Rank and organization: Corporal, Company A, 74th New York Infantry.
Place and date: At Chancellorsville, Va., 3 May 1863.
Entered service at: West Manchester, Pa.
Birth: Pittsburgh, PA, 1842.
Died: Pittsburgh, PA 16 July 1904. Buried Uniondale Cem., Pittsburgh.
Date of issue: 5 October 1876.
Citation: Bravely advanced to the enemy's line under heavy fire and brought back valuable information.

120th New York:

PLIMLEY, William
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, Company F, 120th New York Infantry. Highest rank: Major
Place and date: At Hatchers Run, Va., 2 April 1865.
Entered service at: Catskill, N.Y.
Birth: Born 12 August 1838, Catskill, N.Y.
Died: New York, 2 Oct. 1913. Buried Catskill Rural Cem., Catskill, NY (MH).
Date of issue: 4 April 1898.
Citation: While acting as aide to a general officer, voluntarily accompanied a regiment in an assault on the enemy's works and acted as leader of the movement which resulted in the rout of the enemy and the capture of a large number of prisoners.

Reference Material:
History of the Third Regiment, Excelsior Brigade by Henri LeFevre Brown, Sergeant, Co. B, 72nd New York, 1902
Congressional Medal of Honor Society Headquarters, Mr. Gerald F. White

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