Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Sergeant George Marsh received the Medal of Honor for his actions on July 2, 1863 at Elk River, Tennessee during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company D, 104th Illinois Infantry. Marsh was 26 years old.
27 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on September 17, 1897, 34 years after the action.
Marsh was born on August 14, 1836 in Brookfield, Cook County, Illinois. Marsh died on June 18, 1915 in Ottawa, Illinois, at the age of 78. He is buried at Ottawa Avenue Cemetery in Ottawa, Illinois.
Marsh 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 led a small party and, 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: Brookfield — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Illinois →
Timeline
- August 14, 1836Born in Brookfield, Cook County, Illinois
- July 2, 1863Act of valor — Elk River, TennesseeAge 26. Company D, 104th Illinois Infantry
- September 17, 1897Medal of Honor presented
- June 18, 1915Died in Ottawa, IllinoisAge 78.
- Resting placeOttawa Avenue CemeteryOttawa, Illinois
Biography
Sergeant George Marsh (died June 18, 1915) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Marsh received his country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor. Marsh's medal was won for capturing a stockade and saving a bridge over the Elk River in Tennessee on July 2, 1863. He was honored with the award on September 17, 1897. Marsh was born in Brookfield, Illinois, where he entered service, and was buried in Ottawa, Illinois.
From the Wikipedia article “George Marsh (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
