Sergeant Benjamin Franklin McAlwee, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on July 30, 1864 in Petersburg, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company D, 3d Maryland Infantry. McAlwee 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 April 4, 1898, 33 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Sergeant Major.
McAlwee was born on January 7, 1838 in Washington. His Medal of Honor is credited to Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland. McAlwee died on June 28, 1918 in Washington, District of Columbia, at the age of 80. He is buried at Congressional Cemetery in Washington, District of Columbia.
McAlwee is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 85 credited to Maryland.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Picked up a shell with burning fuse and threw it over the parapet into the ditch, where it exploded; by this act he probably saved the lives of comrades at the great peril of his own.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Timeline
- January 7, 1838Born in Washington
- July 30, 1864Act of valor — Petersburg, VirginiaAge 26. Company D, 3d Maryland Infantry
- April 4, 1898Medal of Honor presented
- June 28, 1918Died in Washington, District of ColumbiaAge 80.
- Resting placeCongressional CemeteryWashington, District of Columbia
