First Lieutenant Gardner C. Hawkins was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 2, 1865 in Petersburg, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company E, 3d Vermont Infantry. Hawkins was 19 years old.
65 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on September 30, 1893, 28 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Colonel.
Hawkins was born on February 11, 1846 in Pomfret, Windsor County, Vermont. His Medal of Honor is credited to Woodstock, Windsor County, Vermont. Hawkins died on December 15, 1913 in Winthrop, Massachusetts, at the age of 67. He is buried at Lindenwood Cemetery in Stoneham, Massachusetts.
Hawkins 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
When the lines were wavering from the well-directed fire of the enemy, this officer, acting adjutant of the regiment, sprang forward, and with encouraging words cheered the soldiers on and, although dangerously wounded, refused to leave the field until the enemy's works were taken.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and injuries
What the citation records about his wounds:
When the lines were wavering from the well-directed fire of the enemy, this officer, acting adjutant of the regiment, sprang forward, and with encouraging words cheered the soldiers on and, although dangerously wounded, refused to leave the field until the enemy's works were taken.
- Age at death: 67
- Resting place: Lindenwood Cemetery
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Vermont →
Timeline
- February 11, 1846Born in Pomfret, Windsor County, Vermont
- April 2, 1865Act of valor — Petersburg, VirginiaAge 19. Company E, 3d Vermont Infantry
- September 30, 1893Medal of Honor presented
- December 15, 1913Died in Winthrop, MassachusettsAge 67.
- Resting placeLindenwood CemeteryStoneham, Massachusetts
Biography
Gardner C. Hawkins (February 11, 1846 – December 15, 1913) was a Union Army soldier in the American Civil War who received the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor. Hawkins was born in Pomfret, Vermont and entered service at Woodstock, Vermont. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism on April 2, 1865, while serving as a First Lieutenant with Company D, 3rd Vermont Infantry Regiment, at Petersburg, Virginia. His Medal of Honor was issued on September 30, 1893. He was a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts. He died at the age of 67 and was buried at the Lindenwood Cemetery in Stoneham, Massachusetts.
From the Wikipedia article “Gardner C. Hawkins”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
