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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

Bruce Anderson

Private Bruce Anderson, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on January 15, 1865 at Fort Fisher, North Carolina during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War January 15, 1865Born in Mexico

Private Bruce Anderson was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on January 15, 1865 at Fort Fisher, North Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company K, 142d New York Infantry. Anderson was 19 years old.

30 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on December 28, 1914, 49 years after the action.

Anderson was born on June 19, 1845 in Mexico City, Mexico — one of 8 recipients born in Mexico. His Medal of Honor is credited to Albany, Albany County, New York. Anderson died on August 22, 1922 in Albany, New York, at the age of 77. He is buried at Green Hill Cemetery in Amsterdam, New York.

Anderson 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

Voluntarily advanced with the head of the column and cut down the palisading.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Mexico — map
  • Died: Albany — map
  • Buried: Green Hill Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. June 19, 1845
    Born in Mexico City, Mexico
  2. January 15, 1865
    Act of valor — Fort Fisher, North Carolina
    Age 19. Company K, 142d New York Infantry
  3. December 28, 1914
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. August 22, 1922
    Died in Albany, New York
    Age 77.
  5. Resting place
    Green Hill Cemetery
    Amsterdam, New York

Biography

Bruce Anderson (June 19, 1845 – August 22, 1922) was an African American Union Army soldier in the American Civil War and a recipient of America's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the Second Battle of Fort Fisher. After working as a farmer in New York, Anderson joined the military to fight in the Civil War. He volunteered with a group of other soldiers to dismantle a palisade blocking his unit's advance. After completing the mission and destroying the palisade, Anderson and twelve others were recommended for the Medal of Honor, but the paperwork was lost. Anderson hired an attorney to get the Medal, and he and two other soldiers received it in 1914.

From the Wikipedia article “Bruce Anderson (soldier)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Named in his honor

Also honored for actions on January 15, 1865

GB Gurdon H. Barter Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1865 DB David L. Bass Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 PB Philip Bazaar Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 AB Albert Burton Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 Alaric B. Chapin Private · Army Civil War · 1865 TC Thomas Connor Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 Newton Martin Curtis Brigadier General · Army Civil War · 1865 William Henry Freeman Private · Army Civil War · 1865 JG John Griffiths Captain of the Forecastle · Navy Civil War · 1865 TH Thomas Harcourt Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 TK Thomas Kane Captain of the Hold · Navy Civil War · 1865 GM George Merrill Private · Army Civil War · 1865

See all 31 recipients for January 15, 1865 →

More Civil War recipients from New York

RB Richard Beddows Private · Army Civil War · 1864 WC William Henry harrison Crosier Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 CB Christopher C. Bruton Captain · Army Civil War · 1865 Henri Le fevre Brown Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 MR Myron H. Ranney Private · Army Civil War · 1862 TH Thomas Horan Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863
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.