Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, First Lieutenant David Eastburn Buckingham received the Medal of Honor for his actions on February 5, 1865 at Rowanty Creek, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company E, 4th Delaware Infantry. Buckingham was 25 years old.
3 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on February 3, 1895, 29 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Captain.
Buckingham was born on February 3, 1840 in Pleasant Hill (Stanton), New Castle County, Delaware. His Medal of Honor is credited to Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware. Buckingham died on November 23, 1915 in Washington, District of Columbia, at the age of 75. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
Buckingham is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 13 credited to Delaware.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Swam the partly frozen creek under fire, in the attempt to capture a crossing.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
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Timeline
- February 3, 1840Born in Pleasant Hill (Stanton), New Castle County, Delaware
- February 5, 1865Act of valor — Rowanty Creek, VirginiaAge 25. Company E, 4th Delaware Infantry
- February 3, 1895Medal of Honor presented
- November 23, 1915Died in Washington, District of ColumbiaAge 75.
- Resting placeArlington National CemeteryArlington, Virginia
Biography
First Lieutenant David Eastburn Buckingham (February 3, 1840 to November 23, 1915) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Buckingham received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action at Rowanty Creek in Virginia on 5 February 1865. He was honored with the award on 13 February 1895.
From the Wikipedia article “David E. Buckingham”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
