Sergeant Edwin Leonard was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on June 18, 1864 near Petersburg, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company I, 37th Massachusetts Infantry. Leonard was 40 years old.
3 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on August 16, 1894, 30 years after the action.
Leonard was born on November 17, 1823 in Agawam, Hampden County, Massachusetts. Leonard died on April 5, 1900, at the age of 76. He is buried at The White Church Cemetery in West Springfield, Massachusetts.
Leonard is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 265 credited to Massachusetts.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Voluntarily exposed himself to the fire of a Union brigade to stop their firing on the Union skirmish line.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
- Born: Agawam — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →
Timeline
- November 17, 1823Born in Agawam, Hampden County, Massachusetts
- June 18, 1864Act of valor — near Petersburg, VirginiaAge 40. Company I, 37th Massachusetts Infantry
- August 16, 1894Medal of Honor presented
- April 5, 1900DiedAge 76.
- Resting placeThe White Church CemeteryWest Springfield, Massachusetts
Biography
Edwin Leonard (November 17, 1823 – April 5, 1900) was a Sergeant in the Union Army and a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions in the American Civil War. He is buried in the Elm Street Cemetery in West Springfield, Massachusetts.
From the Wikipedia article “Edwin Leonard”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
