Corporal Elijah A. Briggs was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 3, 1865 in Petersburg, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company B, 2d Connecticut Heavy Artillery. Briggs was 21 years old.
3 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on May 10, 1865. He later rose to the rank of Sergeant.
Briggs was born on October 26, 1843 in Salisbury, Litchfield County, Connecticut. Briggs died on March 10, 1922 in Beacon, New York, at the age of 78. He is buried at Fishkill Rural Cemetery in Fishkill, New York.
Briggs is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 57 credited to Connecticut.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Capture of battle flag.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Connecticut →
Timeline
- October 26, 1843Born in Salisbury, Litchfield County, Connecticut
- April 3, 1865Act of valor — Petersburg, VirginiaAge 21. Company B, 2d Connecticut Heavy Artillery
- May 10, 1865Medal of Honor presented
- March 10, 1922Died in Beacon, New YorkAge 78.
- Resting placeFishkill Rural CemeteryFishkill, New York
Biography
Elijah A. Briggs (October 26, 1843 – March 10, 1922) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Briggs received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action at Petersburg, Virginia on 3 April 1865. He was honored with the award on 10 May 1865.
From the Wikipedia article “Elijah A. Briggs”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
