Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Commissary Sergeant Andrew Jackson Lorish received the Medal of Honor for his actions on September 19, 1864 in Winchester, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 19th New York Cavalry (1st New York Dragoons). Lorish was 31 years old.
14 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on September 27, 1864. He later rose to the rank of Brevet First Lieutenant.
Lorish was born on November 8, 1832 in Dansville, Livingston County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to Attica, Wyoming County, New York. Lorish died on August 11, 1897 in Warsaw, New York, at the age of 64. He is buried at Forest Hill Cemetery in Attica, New York.
Lorish is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 678 credited to New York.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Amid the enemy he grabbed the flag from a color bearer who then called for help. When the bearer's comrades were readying their rifles, he dashed directly at them securing their disarming. As he rode away, the Confederates picked up their guns firing at the captor of their flag.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
- Born: New York — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
Timeline
- November 8, 1832Born in Dansville, Livingston County, New York
- September 19, 1864Act of valor — Winchester, VirginiaAge 31. 19th New York Cavalry (1st New York Dragoons)
- September 27, 1864Medal of Honor presented
- August 11, 1897Died in Warsaw, New YorkAge 64.
- Resting placeForest Hill CemeteryAttica, New York
Biography
Andrew J. Lorish (November 8, 1832–August 11, 1897) was a Commissary Sergeant in the Union Army and a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions in the American Civil War. Lorish joined the 1st New York Dragoons from Attica, New York in August 1862. He was promoted to regimental sergeant major the next month, but demoted to private before the end of the year. In October 1863 he became the regimental commissary sergeant. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in May 1865, and mustered out with his regiment in June. Lorish is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, Attica, New York.
From the Wikipedia article “Andrew J. Lorish”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
