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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

George Merrill

Private George Merrill, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on January 15, 1865 at Fort Fisher, North Carolina during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War January 15, 1865

Private George Merrill was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on January 15, 1865 at Fort Fisher, North Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company I, 142d New York Infantry. Merrill was 17 years old.

30 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on December 28, 1914, 49 years after the action.

Merrill was born on February 11, 1847 in Queensberry, Warren County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to Moreau, Saratoga County, New York. Merrill died on August 29, 1925 in Glens Falls, New York, at the age of 78. He is buried at Glens Falls Cemetery in Glens Falls, New York.

Merrill is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 678 credited to New York.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Voluntarily advanced with the head of the column and cut down the palisading.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Died: New York — map
  • Buried: Glens Falls Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. February 11, 1847
    Born in Queensberry, Warren County, New York
  2. January 15, 1865
    Act of valor — Fort Fisher, North Carolina
    Age 17. Company I, 142d New York Infantry
  3. December 28, 1914
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. August 29, 1925
    Died in Glens Falls, New York
    Age 78.
  5. Resting place
    Glens Falls Cemetery
    Glens Falls, New York

Biography

George Merrill (February 11, 1847 – August 29, 1925) was a Union Army soldier during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the Second Battle of Fort Fisher on January 15, 1865.

From the Wikipedia article “George Merrill (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on January 15, 1865

BA Bruce Anderson Private · Army Civil War · 1865 GB Gurdon H. Barter Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1865 DB David L. Bass Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 PB Philip Bazaar Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 AB Albert Burton Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 Alaric B. Chapin Private · Army Civil War · 1865 TC Thomas Connor Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 Newton Martin Curtis Brigadier General · Army Civil War · 1865 William Henry Freeman Private · Army Civil War · 1865 JG John Griffiths Captain of the Forecastle · Navy Civil War · 1865 TH Thomas Harcourt Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 TK Thomas Kane Captain of the Hold · Navy Civil War · 1865

See all 31 recipients for January 15, 1865 →

More Civil War recipients from New York

HC Hartwell B. Compson Major · Army Civil War · 1865 HK Harry Kline Private · Army Civil War · 1865 RS Richard Stout Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1863 RS Richard Smith Private · Army Civil War · 1864 AB Asa Betham Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1864 William Giles Hills 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.