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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

First Sergeant · U.S. Army

Edward Ratcliff

First Sergeant Edward Ratcliff, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on September 29, 1864 at Chapin's Farm, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War September 29, 1864

First Sergeant Edward Ratcliff, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on September 29, 1864 at Chapin's Farm, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company C, 38th U.S. Colored Troops. Ratcliff was 29 years old.

37 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 6, 1865. He later rose to the rank of Sergeant Major.

Ratcliff was born on February 8, 1835 in James City, James County, Virginia. His Medal of Honor is credited to Yorktown, York County, Virginia. Ratcliff died on March 10, 1915 in Nelson, Virginia, at the age of 80. He is buried at Chescake Cemetery in Lackey, Virginia.

Ratcliff is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 48 credited to Virginia.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Commanded and gallantly led his company after the commanding officer had been killed; was the first enlisted man to enter the enemy's works.

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

Battles and campaigns

1864 · Civil War

Battle of Chaffin's Farm

Result: Union victory

24 Medal of Honor recipients

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: James City County — map
  • Died: York County — map
  • Buried: Cheesecake Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Virginia →

Timeline

  1. February 8, 1835
    Born in James City, James County, Virginia
  2. September 29, 1864
    Act of valor — Chapin's Farm, Virginia
    Age 29. Company C, 38th U.S. Colored Troops
  3. April 6, 1865
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. March 10, 1915
    Died in Nelson, Virginia
    Age 80.
  5. Resting place
    Chescake Cemetery
    Lackey, Virginia

Biography

Edward Ratcliff (February 8, 1835 – March 10, 1915) was an African American Union Army soldier during the American Civil War and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions at the Battle of Chaffin's Farm. Born as a slave, he was freed when the Union Army took Yorktown. By September 29, 1864, Ratcliff was serving as a first sergeant in Company C of the 38th Regiment U.S. Colored Troops. On that day, his unit participated in the Battle of Chaffin's Farm in Virginia, and it was for his actions during the battle that he was awarded the Medal of Honor six months later, on April 6, 1865.

From the Wikipedia article “Edward Ratcliff (soldier)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on September 29, 1864

LA Lester Archer Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 ✦ WB William Henry Barnes Private · Army Civil War · 1864 Powhatan Beaty First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 TB Thomas Belcher Private · Army Civil War · 1864 CB Charles Blucher Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 JB James Brady Private · Army Civil War · 1864 JB James H. Bronson First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 GB George A. Buchanan Private · Army Civil War · 1864 ✦ FB Frederick Clarence Buck Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 CC Cecil Clay Captain · Army Civil War · 1864 NE Nathan Huntley Edgerton First Lieutenant & Adjutant · Army Civil War · 1864 AF Augustin D. Flanagan Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864

See all 38 recipients for September 29, 1864 →

More Civil War recipients from Virginia

MJ Miles James Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 Charles W. Anderson Private · Army Civil War · 1865 Benjamin Bennett Levy Private · Army Civil War · 1862 TO Timothy O'Connor Private · Army Civil War · 1864 WW William H. Woodall Scout · Army Civil War · 1865 JM James Mifflin Engineer's Cook · Navy 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.