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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

First Lieutenant · U.S. Army

Franklin George Butterfield

First Lieutenant Franklin George Butterfield, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on May 4, 1863 at Salem Heights, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War May 4, 1863

First Lieutenant Franklin George Butterfield was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 4, 1863 at Salem Heights, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company C, 6th Vermont Infantry. Butterfield was 21 years old.

6 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on May 4, 1891, 28 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Butterfield was born on March 11, 1842 in Rockingham, Windham County, Vermont. Butterfield died on January 6, 1916, at the age of 73. He is buried at Saxtons River Cemetery in Saxtons River, Vermont.

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

Official Medal of Honor citation

Took command of the skirmish line and covered the movement of his regiment out of a precarious position.

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

Timeline

  1. March 11, 1842
    Born in Rockingham, Windham County, Vermont
  2. May 4, 1863
    Act of valor — Salem Heights, Virginia
    Age 21. Company C, 6th Vermont Infantry
  3. May 4, 1891
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. January 6, 1916
    Died
    Age 73.
  5. Resting place
    Saxtons River Cemetery
    Saxtons River, Vermont

Also honored for actions on May 4, 1863

JB James Brown Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1863 Charles Amory Clark Lieutenant & Adjutant · Army Civil War · 1863 RC Robert John Coffey Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 Amos Jay Cummings Sergeant Major · Army Civil War · 1863 JM John P. McVeane Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 ✦ St. Clair Agustin Mulholland Major · Army Civil War · 1863

More Civil War recipients from Vermont

WJ William "Willie" Johnston Musician · Army Civil War · 1862 Jackson G. Sargent Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 HN Henry Clay Nichols Captain · Army Civil War · 1865 AB Alexander Mitchell Beatty Captain · Army Civil War · 1864 JD James Drury Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 AT Amasa Sawyer Tracy Lieutenant Colonel · Army Civil War · 1864
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.