Sergeant Edgar Pierpont Putnam, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on May 27, 1864 at Crumps Creek, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company D, 9th New York Cavalry. Putnam was 20 years old.
2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on May 13, 1892, 27 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Brevet Major, New York Volunteers.
Putnam was born on May 4, 1844 in Stockton, Chautauqua County, New York. Putnam died on May 20, 1921, at the age of 77. He is buried at Lake View Cemetery in Jamestown, New York.
Putnam 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
With a small force on a reconnaissance, drove off a strong body of the enemy, charged into another force of the enemy's cavalry and stampeded them, taking 27 prisoners.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Life beyond the battlefield
- Occupations: businessperson, surveyor
Source: Wikidata.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
Timeline
- May 4, 1844Born in Stockton, Chautauqua County, New York
- May 27, 1864Act of valor — Crumps Creek, VirginiaAge 20. Company D, 9th New York Cavalry
- May 13, 1892Medal of Honor presented
- May 20, 1921DiedAge 77.
- Resting placeLake View CemeteryJamestown, New York
Biography
Edgar Pierpont Putnam (4 May 1844 – 20 May 1921) was an American businessman and civic leader in Jamestown, New York. As a young man, he served in the Union Army cavalry during the American Civil War, advancing from private to captain and ultimately receiving the Medal of Honor for his actions as a sergeant leading a scouting party on the day before the 1864 Battle of Totopotomoy Creek in Virginia.
From the Wikipedia article “Edgar P. Putnam”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
