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Lieutenant Colonel · U.S. Army

Douglas Hapeman

Lieutenant Colonel Douglas Hapeman, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on July 20, 1864 at Peach Tree Creek, Georgia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War July 20, 1864

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Lieutenant Colonel Douglas Hapeman received the Medal of Honor for his actions on July 20, 1864 at Peach Tree Creek, Georgia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 104th Illinois Infantry. Hapeman was 25 years old.

4 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 5, 1898, 33 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Colonel.

Hapeman was born on January 15, 1839 in Ephrata, Fulton County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to Ottawa, La Salle County, Illinois. Hapeman died on June 3, 1905 in Ottawa, Illinois, at the age of 66. He is buried at Ottawa Avenue Cemetery in Ottawa, Illinois.

Hapeman is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 210 credited to Illinois.

Official Medal of Honor citation

With conspicuous coolness and bravery rallied his men under a severe attack, reformed the broken ranks, and repulsed the attack.

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

Places

  • Born: Ephratah — map
  • Died: Ottawa — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Illinois →

Timeline

  1. January 15, 1839
    Born in Ephrata, Fulton County, New York
  2. July 20, 1864
    Act of valor — Peach Tree Creek, Georgia
    Age 25. 104th Illinois Infantry
  3. April 5, 1898
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. June 3, 1905
    Died in Ottawa, Illinois
    Age 66.
  5. Resting place
    Ottawa Avenue Cemetery
    Ottawa, Illinois

Biography

Douglas Hapeman (1839–1905) was a Lieutenant Colonel in the 104th Illinois Infantry during the American Civil War, where he was awarded the Medal of Honor. He was born on January 15, 1839, in Ephratah, New York, and later moved to Illinois. Hapeman was awarded the medal for his actions on July 20, 1864, at the Battle of Peachtree Creek, Georgia. There, he "rallied his men under a severe attack, re-formed the broken ranks, and repulsed the attack," and acted with "conspicuous coolness and bravery." He was awarded his Medal of Honor on April 5, 1898. After the war, he was elected as a companion of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States.

From the Wikipedia article “Douglas Hapeman”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on July 20, 1864

DB Denis Buckley Private · Army Civil War · 1864 ✦ WC William Henry harrison Crosier Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 JS John Shanes Private · Army Civil War · 1864 WW William Haliday Williams Private · Army Civil War · 1864

More Civil War recipients from Illinois

HM Henry August Miller Captain · Army Civil War · 1865 DD David Dickie Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 TM Thomas C. Murphy Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 JM Jerome Morford Private · Army Civil War · 1863 JV James David Vernay Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1863 Leverett Mansfield Kelley Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863
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.