George J. Pitman – Medal of Honor, Civil War (1865)

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Sergeant George J. Pitman received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 6, 1865 at Deatonsville (Sailor's Creek), Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company C, 1st New York (Lincoln) Cavalry. Pitman was about 26 years old.

59 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on May 3, 1865.

Pitman was born in 1839 in Recklestown (now Chesterfield Township), Burlington County, New Jersey. His Medal of Honor is credited to Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Pitman died on April 30, 1884 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the age of about 45. He is buried at South in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Pitman is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.

★ Flags & Colors

Official Medal of Honor citation

Capture of flag of the Sumter Heavy Artillery (C.S.A.).

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

Battles and campaigns

1865 · Civil War

Battle of Sailor's Creek

Result: Union victory

21 Medal of Honor recipients

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

Born: New Jersey — map
Buried: Laurel Hill Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →

Timeline

1839
Born in Recklestown (now Chesterfield Township), Burlington County, New Jersey
April 6, 1865
Act of valor — Deatonsville (Sailor's Creek), Virginia
Age about 26. Company C, 1st New York (Lincoln) Cavalry
May 3, 1865
Medal of Honor presented
April 30, 1884
Died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Age about 45.
Resting place
South
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Biography

Sergeant George J. Pitman (1839 – April 30, 1884) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Pitman received his country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor. Pitman's medal was won for his capturing of George M Patterson's Battery flag of the 11th Battalion, Georgia Artillery (Sumter's Artillery) at the conclusion of the Battle of Sailor's Creek on April 6, 1865. Pitman was one of three members of the 1st New York (Lincoln) Cavalry who rode to the flag bearers of a Georgia regiment and demanded their flags. He was honored with the award on May 3, 1865.

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

Also honored for actions on April 6, 1865

JB John Francis Benjamin Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 OB Orrin Bennett Private · Army Civil War · 1865 HB Hugh Patterson Boon Captain · Army Civil War · 1865

Lewis Francis Brest Private · Army Civil War · 1865 AB Andrew Bringle Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 IC Ivers S. Calkin First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 JC John Chapman Private · Army Civil War · 1865 AC Albert Adams Clapp First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 TC Trustrim Connell Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 FC Francis Marion Cunningham First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865

Thomas Ward Custer Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 TD Thomas Davis Private · Army Civil War · 1865

See all 60 recipients for April 6, 1865 →

More Civil War recipients from Pennsylvania

John Mitchell Vanderslice Private · Army Civil War · 1865 EB Eugene Beauharnais Beaumont Major and Assistant Adjutant General · Army Civil War · 1865

Sylvester D. Rhodes Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 WF West Funk Major · Army Civil War · 1865

William Henry harrison Benyaurd First Lieutenant, Engineers · Army Civil War · 1865 JB John Brazell Quartermaster · Navy 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.