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First Lieutenant · U.S. Army

George Lewis Gillespie Jr.

First Lieutenant George Lewis Gillespie Jr., Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on May 31, 1864 near Bethesda Church, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War May 31, 1864

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, First Lieutenant George Lewis Gillespie Jr. received the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 31, 1864 near Bethesda Church, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S. Engineers. Gillespie was 22 years old.

The medal was presented on October 27, 1897, 33 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Major General.

Gillespie was born on October 7, 1841 in Kingston, Roane County, Tennessee. His Medal of Honor is credited to Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee. Gillespie died on September 27, 1913 in Saratoga, New York, at the age of 71. He is buried at U.S. Military Academy Cemetery in West Point, New York.

Gillespie 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

Exposed himself to great danger by voluntarily making his way through the enemy's lines to communicate with Gen. Sheridan. While rendering this service he was captured, but escaped; again came in contact with the enemy, was again ordered to surrender, but escaped by dashing away under fire.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Life beyond the battlefield

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: Kingston — map
  • Died: Saratoga Springs — map
  • Buried: West Point Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Tennessee →

Timeline

  1. October 7, 1841
    Born in Kingston, Roane County, Tennessee
  2. May 31, 1864
    Act of valor — near Bethesda Church, Virginia
    Age 22. U.S. Engineers
  3. October 27, 1897
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. September 27, 1913
    Died in Saratoga, New York
    Age 71.
  5. Resting place
    U.S. Military Academy Cemetery
    West Point, New York

Biography

George Lewis Gillespie Jr. (October 7, 1841 – September 27, 1913) was an American soldier who received the United States' highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the American Civil War.

From the Wikipedia article “George Lewis Gillespie Jr.”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Further reading

Same unit

William Henry harrison Benyaurd First Lieutenant, Engineers · Army Civil War · 1865 Frederick William Gerber Sergeant Major · Army Interim 1865–1870 John Moulder Wilson First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1862

More Civil War recipients from Tennessee

Gaines Lawson First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 HC Harrison Collins Corporal · 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.