MEDAL OF HONOR

Fourteen of the fifteen Medals of Honor listed here, were awarded for valor at New Market Heights. These were the first Congressional Medals of Honor given to colored troops. Note that some are recorded as Chaffin's Farm which is incorrect. The only medal not earned at New Market Heights is the medal earned by Decatur Dorsey at Petersburg. Following the war, two more Congressional Medals of Honor were given to Civil War colored troops. Sergeant William H. Carney was awarded a Congressional Medal of Honor for bravery at Fort Wagner in 1863. However, Carney was not awarded the medal until 30 years later. Carney is distinguished as the first Black to earn a Congressional Medal of Honor which is not accurate. In January, 2001 President Clinton awarded a Congressional Medal of Honor to Corporal Andrew Jackson Smith for gallantry during the Battle of Honey Hill, November 30, 1864.

O.R.--SERIES I--VOLUME XLII/1 [S# 87]

AUGUST 1-DECEMBER 31, 1864.--The Richmond (Virginia) Campaign.
No. 350.--Medals of Honor awarded for distinguished services under Resolution of Congress, No. 43, approved July 12, 1862, and section 6 of Act of Congress, approved March 3, 1863.

Medals of Honor awarded for distinguished services, &c.--Continued.

Name.                           Rank and organization.                                                                      Date.           Awarded for--

Bronson, James H            First Sergeant, Company D, 5th U.S. Colored Troops              Sept. 29       Do.

Beaty, Powhatan             First Sergeant,       Company G, 5th U.S. Colored Troops         Sept. 29        Do.

Barnes, William H            Private, Company C, 38th U.S. Colored Troops                     Sept. 29       Among the first to enter the rebel works, although
                                                                                                                              wounded, at Chaffin’s Farm, near Richmond, Va.

Fleetwood, Christian A.-     Sergeant-major, 4th U.S. Colored Troops                            Sept. 29             Do.      

Gardiner, James               Private, Company I, 36th U.S. Colored Troops                      Sept. 29        Gallantry in action at Chaffin's Farm, near Richmond, Va.

Holland, Milton M           Sergeant-major, 5th U.S. Colored Troops                             Sept, 20       Gallantry in action at Chaffin's Farm, near Richmond, Va.

Hilton, Alfred B.              Sergeant, Company H, 4th U.S. Colored Troops                    Sept. 29       Gallantry in action as color bearer at Chaffin's Farm, near
                                                                                                                             Richmond, Va.

Harris, James H.              Sergeant, Company B, 38th U.S. Colored Troops                  Sept, 29        Gallantry in action at New Market Heights, Va.

James, Miles                   Corporal, Company B, 36th U.S Colored Troops                   Sept. 30       Gallantry in action at Chaffin's Farm, near Richmond, Va.

Kelly, Alexander             First Sergeant, Company F, 6th U.S. Colored Troops           Sept, 29       Gallantry in action at Chaffin's Farm, near Richmond, Va.

Pinn, Robert                    First Sergeant, Company I, 5th U.S. Colored Troops             Sept. 29        Gallantry in action at Chaffin's Farm, near Richmond, Va.

Ratclift, Edward             First Sergeant, Company C, 38th U.S. Colored Troops            Sept. 29       Gallantry in action at Chaffin's Farm, near Richmond. Va.

Veal, Charles                  Private, Company D, 4th U.S. Colored Troops                      Sept. 29       Do.

O.R.--SERIES I--VOLUME XL/1 [S# 80]

JUNE 13-JULY 31, 1864.--The Richmond (Virginia) Campaign.

 

Dorsey, Decatur              Sergeant, Company B, 39th U. S. Colored Troops.            July 30, 1864      Bravery while acting as color sergeant of his
                                                                                                                                                                           his regimentat Petersburg,

Hawkins, Thomas            Sergeant-major, 6th U. S Colored Troops.                            July --, 1864       Rescue of regimental flag at Deep Bottom, Va.