Veteran in crisis? Dial 988 then press 1 · Text 838255 Next observance: Navy Birthday · October 13
Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

George Dallas Sidman

Private George Dallas Sidman, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on June 27, 1862 at Gaines' Mill, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War June 27, 1862

Private George Dallas Sidman, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on June 27, 1862 at Gaines' Mill, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company C, 16th Michigan Infantry. Sidman was 17 years old.

6 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 6, 1892, 29 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Corporal.

Sidman was born on November 25, 1844 in Rochester, Monroe County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to Owosso, Shiawassee County, Michigan. Sidman died on February 3, 1920 in Lakeland, Florida, at the age of 75. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

Sidman is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 112 credited to Michigan.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Distinguished bravery in battle. Rallied his comrades to charge vastly superior force until wounded in the hip. He was a 16-year old drummer.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: Seven Days Battles, American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Rochester — map
  • Died: Lakeland — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Michigan →

Timeline

  1. November 25, 1844
    Born in Rochester, Monroe County, New York
  2. June 27, 1862
    Act of valor — Gaines' Mill, Virginia
    Age 17. Company C, 16th Michigan Infantry
  3. April 6, 1892
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. February 3, 1920
    Died in Lakeland, Florida
    Age 75.
  5. Resting place
    Arlington National Cemetery
    Arlington, Virginia

Biography

George Dallas Sidman (November 24, 1844 – February 3, 1920) was a soldier who fought in the American Civil War and became a recipient of the Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor. He served as a 16-year-old drummer boy Private in Company C, 16th Michigan Infantry. During an assault on a superior Confederate force at Battle of Gaines' Mill, Virginia, June 27, 1862, Private Sidman remained in front of his comrades and continued to rally the charge until wounded in the hip. For bravery in battle, he was promoted to Corporal and awarded the Medal of Honor on April 6, 1892.

From the Wikipedia article “George D. Sidman”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Further reading

Also honored for actions on June 27, 1862

Daniel Adams Butterfield Brigadier General · Army Civil War · 1862 CH Charles F. Hopkins Corporal · Army Civil War · 1862 JK John Kaiser First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1862 John Henry Moffitt Corporal · Army Civil War · 1862 Ernest von Vegesack Major & Aide-de-Camp · Army Civil War · 1862 GW George C. Williams Quartermaster Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1862

More Civil War recipients from Michigan

PS Peter Sype Private · Army Civil War · 1863 CT Charles Augustus Thompson Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 AW Alonzo Woodruff Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 HF Henry M. Fox Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 EN Elliott Malloy Norton Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 Frank Dwight Baldwin Captain · Army Civil War · 1864
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.