Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Captain Dayton P. Clarke received the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 12, 1864 in Spotsylvania, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company F, 2d Vermont Infantry. Clarke was 23 years old.
34 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on June 30, 1892, 28 years after the action.
Clarke was born on December 15, 1840 in DeKalb, St. Lawrence County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to Hermon, St. Lawrence County, New York. Clarke died on November 10, 1915 in Montpelier, Vermont, at the age of 74. He is buried at Green Mount Cemetery in Montpelier, Vermont. Records also list him as Clark, Dayton P..
Clarke 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
Distinguished conduct in a desperate hand-to-hand fight while commanding the regiment.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Places
- Born: Hermon — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
Timeline
- December 15, 1840Born in DeKalb, St. Lawrence County, New York
- May 12, 1864Act of valor — Spotsylvania, VirginiaAge 23. Company F, 2d Vermont Infantry
- June 30, 1892Medal of Honor presented
- November 10, 1915Died in Montpelier, VermontAge 74.
- Resting placeGreen Mount CemeteryMontpelier, Vermont
Biography
Captain Dayton P. Clarke (December 15, 1840 to November 10, 1915) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Clarke received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action during the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House in Virginia on 12 May 1864. He was honored with the award on 30 June 1892.
From the Wikipedia article “Dayton P. Clarke”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
