Sergeant Axel Hayford Reed, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on November 15, 1863 at Chickamauga & Missionary Ridge, Georgia & Tennessee during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company K, 2d Minnesota Infantry. Reed was 28 years old.
The medal was presented on April 2, 1898, 34 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Captain.
Reed was born on March 13, 1835 in Hartford, Oxford County, Maine. His Medal of Honor is credited to Glencoe, McLeod County, Minnesota. Reed died on January 21, 1917 in Glencoe, Minnesota, at the age of 81. He is buried at Mount Auburn Cemetery in Glencoe, Minnesota.
Reed is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 45 credited to Minnesota.
Official Medal of Honor citation
While in arrest at Chickamagua, Ga., left his place in the rear and voluntarily went to the line of battle, secured a rifle, and fought gallantly during the two-day battle; was released from arrest in recognition of his bravery. At Missionary Ridge Reed commanded his company and gallantly led it, being among the first to enter the enemy's works; was severely wounded, losing an arm, but declined a discharge and remained in active service to the end of the war.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and injuries
What the citation records about his wounds:
At Missionary Ridge Reed commanded his company and gallantly led it, being among the first to enter the enemy's works; was severely wounded, losing an arm, but declined a discharge and remained in active service to the end of the war.
- Age at death: 81
- Resting place: Mount Auburn Cemetery
Timeline
- March 13, 1835Born in Hartford, Oxford County, Maine
- November 15, 1863Act of valor — Chickamauga & Missionary Ridge, Georgia & TennesseeAge 28. Company K, 2d Minnesota Infantry
- April 2, 1898Medal of Honor presented
- January 21, 1917Died in Glencoe, MinnesotaAge 81.
- Resting placeMount Auburn CemeteryGlencoe, Minnesota
