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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Captain · U.S. Army

Christopher C. Bruton

Captain Christopher C. Bruton, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on March 2, 1865 in Waynesboro, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War March 2, 1865Born in Ireland

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Captain Christopher C. Bruton received the Medal of Honor for his actions on March 2, 1865 in Waynesboro, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company C, 22d New York Cavalry. Bruton was about 25 years old.

13 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on March 26, 1865. He later rose to the rank of Brevet Major.

Bruton was born in 1840 in Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Riga, Monroe County, New York. Bruton died on June 14, 1867 in Caldonia, Michigan, at the age of about 27. He is buried at St. Patrick Cemetery in Caldonia, Michigan. Records also list him as Braton, Christopher.

Bruton 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

Capture of Gen. Early's headquarters flag. Confederate national standard.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Ireland — map
  • Buried: Saint Patricks Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. 1840
    Born in Ireland
  2. March 2, 1865
    Act of valor — Waynesboro, Virginia
    Age about 25. Company C, 22d New York Cavalry
  3. March 26, 1865
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. June 14, 1867
    Died in Caldonia, Michigan
    Age about 27.
  5. Resting place
    St. Patrick Cemetery
    Caldonia, Michigan

Biography

Christopher C. Bruton (or Braton) (1841–1867) was a Union Army officer during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the Battle of Waynesboro, Virginia fought on March 2, 1865. It was the final battle for Confederate Lt. Gen. Jubal Early, whose force was destroyed. Bruton joined the 18th New York Infantry in May 1861, and was discharged for disability in August 1862. He joined the 22nd New York Cavalry in January 1864, and was commissioned as an officer the following March. He mustered out with his regiment in August 1865.

From the Wikipedia article “Christopher C. Bruton”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on March 2, 1865

Charles W. Anderson Private · Army Civil War · 1865 HB Henry H. Bickford Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 WC Warren Carman Private · Army Civil War · 1865 HC Hartwell B. Compson Major · Army Civil War · 1865 MC Michael Crowley Private · Army Civil War · 1865 CG Charles Arthur Goheen First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 HH Harry Harvey Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 Andrew Kuder Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 GL George Ladd Private · Army Civil War · 1865 JM James Madison Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 JM John Miller Private · Army Civil War · 1865 Robert Niven Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865

See all 14 recipients for March 2, 1865 →

More Civil War recipients from New York

JK John Kaiser First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1862 JW James Ward Quarter Gunner · Navy Civil War · 1864 AR Alexander Robinson Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1864 Thomas M. Burke Private · Army Civil War · 1863 IP Irvin C. Payne Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 DS David Sprowle Orderly Sergeant · Marine Corps Civil War · 1864
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.