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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Sergeant Major · U.S. Army

Christian A. Fleetwood

Sergeant Major Christian A. Fleetwood, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on September 29, 1864 at Chapin's Farm, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War September 29, 1864

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Sergeant Major Christian A. Fleetwood received the Medal of Honor for his actions on September 29, 1864 at Chapin's Farm, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 4th U.S. Colored Infantry. Fleetwood was 24 years old.

37 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 6, 1865.

Fleetwood was born on July 21, 1840 in Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland. Fleetwood died on September 28, 1914 in Washington, District of Columbia, at the age of 74. He is buried at Harmony Memorial Park in Landover, Maryland. His medal is held by National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC.

Fleetwood is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 85 credited to Maryland.

★ Flags & Colors

Official Medal of Honor citation

Seized the colors, after two color bearers had been shot down, and bore them nobly through the fight.

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

Battles and campaigns

1864 · Civil War

Battle of Chaffin's Farm

Result: Union victory

24 Medal of Honor recipients

Also served in: American Civil War.

Life beyond the battlefield

  • Occupations: editor, official, musician

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: Baltimore — map
  • Died: Washington, D.C. — map
  • Buried: National Harmony Memorial Park — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Maryland →

Timeline

  1. July 21, 1840
    Born in Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland
  2. September 29, 1864
    Act of valor — Chapin's Farm, Virginia
    Age 24. 4th U.S. Colored Infantry
  3. April 6, 1865
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. September 28, 1914
    Died in Washington, District of Columbia
    Age 74.
  5. Resting place
    Harmony Memorial Park
    Landover, Maryland

Biography

Christian Abraham Fleetwood (July 21, 1840 – September 28, 1914), was an African American non-commissioned officer in the United States Army, a commissioned officer in the D.C. National Guard, an editor, a musician, and a government official. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the American Civil War. He wrote "The Negro As a Soldier" for the Negro Congress at the Cotton States and International Exposition in Atlanta, Georgia held in November 1895.

From the Wikipedia article “Christian Abraham Fleetwood”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on September 29, 1864

LA Lester Archer Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 ✦ WB William Henry Barnes Private · Army Civil War · 1864 Powhatan Beaty First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 TB Thomas Belcher Private · Army Civil War · 1864 CB Charles Blucher Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 JB James Brady Private · Army Civil War · 1864 JB James H. Bronson First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 GB George A. Buchanan Private · Army Civil War · 1864 ✦ FB Frederick Clarence Buck Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 CC Cecil Clay Captain · Army Civil War · 1864 NE Nathan Huntley Edgerton First Lieutenant & Adjutant · Army Civil War · 1864 AF Augustin D. Flanagan Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864

See all 38 recipients for September 29, 1864 →

More Civil War recipients from Maryland

WT William Taylor Sergeant & Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864 HS Henry Shutes Captain of the Forecastle · Navy Civil War · 1863 ER Edward Ringold Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1862 JH Joseph B. Hayden Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1865 WC William M. Carr Master-at-Arms · Navy Civil War · 1864 WM William H. Myers Private · Army Civil War · 1865
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.