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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

First Lieutenant · U.S. Army

Albert E. Fernald

First Lieutenant Albert E. Fernald, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on April 1, 1865 in Five Forks, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War April 1, 1865

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, First Lieutenant Albert E. Fernald received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 1, 1865 in Five Forks, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company F, 20th Maine Infantry. Fernald was 26 years old.

21 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on May 10, 1865.

Fernald was born on May 13, 1838 in Winterport, Waldo County, Maine. Fernald died on December 3, 1908, at the age of 70. He is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Winterport, Maine.

Fernald is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 66 credited to Maine.

Official Medal of Honor citation

During a rush at the enemy, Lt. Fernald seized, during a scuffle, the flag of the 9th Virginia Infantry (C.S.A.).

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Battles and campaigns

1865 · Civil War

Battle of Five Forks

Result: Union victory

8 Medal of Honor recipients

Places

  • Born: Winterport — map
  • Died: Winterport — map
  • Buried: Oak Hill Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Maine →

Timeline

  1. May 13, 1838
    Born in Winterport, Waldo County, Maine
  2. April 1, 1865
    Act of valor — Five Forks, Virginia
    Age 26. Company F, 20th Maine Infantry
  3. May 10, 1865
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. December 3, 1908
    Died
    Age 70.
  5. Resting place
    Oak Hill Cemetery
    Winterport, Maine

Biography

Albert E. Fernald (May 13, 1838 – December 3, 1908) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Fernald received the United States' highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action during the Battle of Five Forks in Virginia on April 1, 1865. He was honored with the award on May 10, 1865.

From the Wikipedia article “Albert E. Fernald”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on April 1, 1865

William Henry harrison Benyaurd First Lieutenant, Engineers · Army Civil War · 1865 Wilmon Whilldin Blackmar Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 HB Henry G. Bonebrake First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 HD Hiram Adolphus Delavie Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 DE David Edwards Private · Army Civil War · 1865 AE Adelbert Everson Private · Army Civil War · 1865 Eugene W. Ferris First Lieutenant & Adjutant · Army Civil War · 1865 Charles N. Gardner Private · Army Civil War · 1865 James G. Grindlay Colonel · Army Civil War · 1865 AK August Kauss Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 Jacob Koogle First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 TM Thomas J. Murphy First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865

See all 22 recipients for April 1, 1865 →

More Civil War recipients from Maine

Francis Snow Hesseltine Lieutenant Colonel · Army Civil War · 1863 CS Charles H. Smith Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1862 Andrew Jackson Tozier Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 Lewellyn Garrish Estes Captain & Assistant Adjutant General · Army Civil War · 1864 AM Adam McCullock Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864 ✦ AM Augustus Merrill Captain · Army Civil War · 1865
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.