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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Sergeant · U.S. Army

Edward Burson Spalding

Sergeant Edward Burson Spalding, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on April 6, 1862 at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War April 6, 1862

Sergeant Edward Burson Spalding was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 6, 1862 at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company E, 52d Illinois Infantry. Spalding was 22 years old.

3 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on January 15, 1894, 31 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of First Lieutenant.

Spalding was born on February 2, 1840 in Byron, Ogle County, Illinois. His Medal of Honor is credited to Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois. Spalding died on March 4, 1920 in Sioux City, Iowa, at the age of 80. He is buried at Floyd Cemetery in Sioux City, Iowa.

Spalding 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

Although twice wounded, and thereby crippled for life, he remained fighting in open ground to the close of the battle.

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

Wounds and injuries

What the citation records about his wounds:

Although twice wounded, and thereby crippled for life, he remained fighting in open ground to the close of the battle.
  • Age at death: 80
  • Resting place: Floyd Cemetery

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Byron — map
  • Buried: Iowa — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Illinois →

Timeline

  1. February 2, 1840
    Born in Byron, Ogle County, Illinois
  2. April 6, 1862
    Act of valor — Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee
    Age 22. Company E, 52d Illinois Infantry
  3. January 15, 1894
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. March 4, 1920
    Died in Sioux City, Iowa
    Age 80.
  5. Resting place
    Floyd Cemetery
    Sioux City, Iowa

Biography

Edward Burson Spalding (February 2, 1840 – March 4, 1920) was a Union Army soldier in the American Civil War and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions at the Battle of Shiloh.

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

Also honored for actions on April 6, 1862

JM John Wade McDonald Private · Army Civil War · 1862 DS David Lafayette Smith Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1862 EW Elwood N. Williams Private · Army Civil War · 1862

More Civil War recipients from Illinois

Henry Fox Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1862 EP Edward M. Pike First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1862 William W. Fraser Private · Army Civil War · 1863 Andrew Jackson Smith Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 ✦ HM Henry August Miller Captain · Army Civil War · 1865 GS George Stokes Private · Army Civil War · 1864
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.