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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Captain · U.S. Army

Dewitt Clinton Lewis

Captain Dewitt Clinton Lewis, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on June 16, 1862 in Secessionville, South Carolina during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War June 16, 1862

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Captain Dewitt Clinton Lewis received the Medal of Honor for his actions on June 16, 1862 in Secessionville, South Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company F, 97th Pennsylvania Infantry. Lewis was 39 years old.

One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 23, 1896, 33 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Brevet Lieutenant Colonel.

Lewis was born on July 30, 1822 in West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania. Lewis died on June 28, 1899 in Morton, Pennsylvania, at the age of 76. He is buried at Oakland Cemetery in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

Lewis is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.

★ Rescue & Lifesaving★ Gave Their Lives

Official Medal of Honor citation

While retiring with his men before a heavy fire of canister shot at short-range, returned in the face of the enemy's fire and rescued an exhausted private of his company who but for this timely action would have lost his life by drowning in the morass through which the troops were retiring.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: West Chester — map
  • Buried: Oaklands Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →

Timeline

  1. July 30, 1822
    Born in West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania
  2. June 16, 1862
    Act of valor — Secessionville, South Carolina
    Age 39. Company F, 97th Pennsylvania Infantry
  3. April 23, 1896
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. June 28, 1899
    Died in Morton, Pennsylvania
    Age 76.
  5. Resting place
    Oakland Cemetery
    West Chester, Pennsylvania

Biography

Dewitt Clinton Lewis (July 30, 1822–June 28, 1899) was a Union Army soldier who served in the 97th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment during the American Civil War. Lewis received his country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor. Lewis's medal was won for his actions at the Battle of Secessionville on June 16, 1862. He was honored with the award on April 23, 1896. Lewis was from West Chester, Pennsylvania.

From the Wikipedia article “Dewitt Clinton Lewis”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on June 16, 1862

Frederick Randolph Jackson First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1862

Same unit

JW John Wainwright First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865

More Civil War recipients from Pennsylvania

JJ James T. Jennings Private · Army Civil War · 1864 William Sully Beebe First lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864 WF West Funk Major · Army Civil War · 1865 James Monroe Reisinger Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 SR Stephen Rought Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 RO Robert Levan Orr Major · 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.