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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

George L. Houghton

Private George L. Houghton, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on July 2, 1863 at Elk River, Tennessee during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War July 2, 1863Born in Canada

Private George L. Houghton, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on July 2, 1863 at Elk River, Tennessee during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company D, 104th Illinois Infantry. Houghton was 21 years old.

27 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on March 17, 1900, 36 years after the action.

Houghton was born on August 28, 1841 in Yarmouth, Canada — one of 60 recipients born in Canada. His Medal of Honor is credited to Brookfield, Cook County, Illinois. Houghton died on February 25, 1917 in Orting, Washington, at the age of 75. He is buried at Soldier's Home Cemetery in Orting, Washington.

Houghton is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 210 credited to Illinois.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Voluntarily joined a small party that, under a heavy fire, captured a stockade and saved the bridge.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Yarmouth County — map
  • Buried: Orting — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Illinois →

Timeline

  1. August 28, 1841
    Born in Yarmouth, Canada
  2. July 2, 1863
    Act of valor — Elk River, Tennessee
    Age 21. Company D, 104th Illinois Infantry
  3. March 17, 1900
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. February 25, 1917
    Died in Orting, Washington
    Age 75.
  5. Resting place
    Soldier's Home Cemetery
    Orting, Washington

Biography

George L. Houghton (August 28, 1841 - February 25, 1917) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Houghton received his country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor. Houghton's medal was won for his actions at Elk River, Tennessee, where he led a party that saved a bridge, on July 2, 1863. He was honored with the award on March 27, 1900. Houghton was born in Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia in Canada, and entered service in Brookfield, Illinois. He was buried in Orting, Washington.

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

Also honored for actions on July 2, 1863

Nathaniel M. Allen Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 CC Casper R. Carlisle Private · Army Civil War · 1863 Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain Colonel · Army Civil War · 1863 Harrison Clark Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 John Barclay Fassett Captain · Army Civil War · 1863 Chester S. Furman Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 RG Richard J. Gage Private · Army Civil War · 1863 JH John William Hart Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 LH Lemuel F. Holland Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 TH Thomas Horan Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 WJ Wallace W. Johnson Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 Edward M. Knox Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1863

See all 28 recipients for July 2, 1863 →

More Civil War recipients from Illinois

MM Michael McCormick Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1864 John O'Dea Private · Army Civil War · 1863 SC Samuel Joseph Churchill Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 PH Patrick Highland Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 HT Henry H. Taylor Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 MN Marcellus J. Newman Private · 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.