Sergeant George Lovell Banks, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on November 25, 1863 at Missionary Ridge, Tennessee during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company C, 15th Indiana Infantry. Banks was 24 years old.
15 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on September 28, 1897, 33 years after the action.
Banks was born on October 13, 1839 in Lake County, Ohio. His Medal of Honor is credited to Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana. Banks died on August 20, 1924 in Independence, Kansas, at the age of 84. He is buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in Independence, Kansas.
Banks is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 75 credited to Indiana.
Official Medal of Honor citation
As color bearer, led his regiment in the assault, and, though wounded, carried the flag forward to the enemy's works, where he was again wounded. In a brigade of eight regiments this flag was the first planted on the parapet.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and injuries
What the citation records about his wounds:
As color bearer, led his regiment in the assault, and, though wounded, carried the flag forward to the enemy's works, where he was again wounded.
- Age at death: 84
- Resting place: Mount Hope Cemetery
Battles and campaigns
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Indiana →
Timeline
- October 13, 1839Born in Lake County, Ohio
- November 25, 1863Act of valor — Missionary Ridge, TennesseeAge 24. Company C, 15th Indiana Infantry
- September 28, 1897Medal of Honor presented
- August 20, 1924Died in Independence, KansasAge 84.
- Resting placeMount Hope CemeteryIndependence, Kansas
Biography
George Lovell Banks (October 13, 1839 - August 20, 1924) was an American soldier who received the Medal of Honor for valor during the American Civil War.
From the Wikipedia article “George L. Banks (soldier)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
