Sergeant Major Amos Jay Cummings was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 4, 1863 at Salem Heights, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 26th New Jersey Infantry. Cummings was 24 years old.
6 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on March 28, 1894, 30 years after the action.
Cummings was born on May 15, 1838 in Conklin, Broome County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to Irvington, Essex County, New Jersey. Cummings died on May 2, 1902, at the age of 63. He is buried at Clinton Cemetery in Irvington, New Jersey.
Cummings is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 93 credited to New Jersey.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Rendered great assistance in the heat of the action in rescuing a part of the field batteries from an extremely dangerous and exposed position.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Life beyond the battlefield
- Offices held: United States representative
- Occupations: politician
Source: Wikidata.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New Jersey →
Timeline
- May 15, 1838Born in Conklin, Broome County, New York
- May 4, 1863Act of valor — Salem Heights, VirginiaAge 24. 26th New Jersey Infantry
- March 28, 1894Medal of Honor presented
- May 2, 1902DiedAge 63.
- Resting placeClinton CemeteryIrvington, New Jersey
Biography
Amos Jay Cummings (May 15, 1841 – May 2, 1902) was an American newspaperman, Civil War veteran, and politician who served as a United States representative from New York from 1889 to 1894, and from 1895 to 1902. He was a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.
From the Wikipedia article “Amos J. Cummings”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
