Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, First Sergeant Gaines Lawson received the Medal of Honor for his actions on October 3, 1863 in Minville, Tennessee during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company D, 4th East Tennessee Infantry. Lawson was 23 years old.
The medal was presented on June 11, 1895, 31 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Brevet Lieutenant Colonel.
Lawson was born on September 4, 1840 in Hawkins County, Tennessee. His Medal of Honor is credited to Rogersville, Hawkins County, Tennessee. Lawson died on September 12, 1906 in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 66. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. His medal is held by Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center, Chattanooga, TN.
Lawson is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 33 credited to Tennessee.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Went to the aid of a wounded comrade between the lines and carried him to a place of safety.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Tennessee →
Timeline
- September 4, 1840Born in Hawkins County, Tennessee
- October 3, 1863Act of valor — Minville, TennesseeAge 23. Company D, 4th East Tennessee Infantry
- June 11, 1895Medal of Honor presented
- September 12, 1906Died in Los Angeles, CaliforniaAge 66.
- Resting placeArlington National CemeteryArlington, Virginia
Biography
Gaines Lawson (September 4, 1840 – September 12, 1906) was a soldier in the Union Army and a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions in the American Civil War. Lawson joined the 4th (East) Tennessee Infantry in December 1862, and mustered out with this regiment in August 1865. He was commissioned in the regular army in July 1866, and retired in September 1892.
From the Wikipedia article “Gaines Lawson”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
