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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

First Sergeant · U.S. Army

Edward A. Holton

First Sergeant Edward A. Holton, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on April 16, 1862 in Lee's Mills, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War April 16, 1862

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, First Sergeant Edward A. Holton received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 16, 1862 in Lee's Mills, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company I, 6th Vermont Infantry. Holton was 26 years old.

2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on July 9, 1892, 30 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Captain.

Holton was born on August 28, 1835 in Westminster, Windham County, Vermont. His Medal of Honor is credited to Williston, Chittenden County, Vermont. Holton died on January 29, 1906 in Bernardston, Massachusetts, at the age of 70. He is buried at Westminster Old Cemetery in Westminster, Vermont.

Holton is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 47 credited to Vermont.

★ Flags & Colors★ Rescue & Lifesaving

Official Medal of Honor citation

Rescued the colors of his regiment under heavy fire, the color bearer having been shot down while the troops were in retreat.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Westminster — map
  • Died: Bernardston — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Vermont →

Timeline

  1. August 28, 1835
    Born in Westminster, Windham County, Vermont
  2. April 16, 1862
    Act of valor — Lee's Mills, Virginia
    Age 26. Company I, 6th Vermont Infantry
  3. July 9, 1892
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. January 29, 1906
    Died in Bernardston, Massachusetts
    Age 70.
  5. Resting place
    Westminster Old Cemetery
    Westminster, Vermont

Biography

Edward Alexander Holton (August 28, 1835 – January 29, 1906) was an American soldier who was awarded the United States' highest honor for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his gallantry while fighting with the 6th Vermont Infantry during the American Civil War. The award was issued in recognition of his efforts, while under heavy enemy fire, to prevent the American flag from falling into enemy hands after his regiment's color-bearer fell in action during the Battle of Lee's Mills, Virginia in April 1862.

From the Wikipedia article “Edward A. Holton”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on April 16, 1862

Samuel E. Pingree Captain · Army Civil War · 1862 Julian A. Scott Drummer · Army Civil War · 1862

More Civil War recipients from Vermont

John Lonergan Captain · Army Civil War · 1863 AT Amasa Sawyer Tracy Lieutenant Colonel · Army Civil War · 1864 Wheelock Graves Veazey Colonel · Army Civil War · 1863 Lester Goodel Hack Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 JS James Sweeney Private · Army Civil War · 1864 GH Gardner C. Hawkins First Lieutenant · 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.