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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Captain · U.S. Army

George Newman Bliss

Captain George Newman Bliss, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on September 28, 1864 in Waynesboro, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War September 28, 1864

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Captain George Newman Bliss received the Medal of Honor for his actions on September 28, 1864 in Waynesboro, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company C, 1st Rhode Island Cavalry. Bliss was 27 years old.

The medal was presented on August 3, 1897, 32 years after the action.

Bliss was born on July 22, 1837 in Tiverton, Newport County, Rhode Island. His Medal of Honor is credited to Pawtucket, Providence County, Rhode Island. Bliss died on August 29, 1928 in East Providence, Rhode Island, at the age of 91. He is buried at Lakeside Cemetery in Rumford, Rhode Island.

Bliss is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 31 credited to Rhode Island.

Official Medal of Honor citation

While in command of the provost guard in the village, he saw the Union lines returning before the attack of a greatly superior force of the enemy, mustered his guard, and, without orders, joined in the defense and charged the enemy without support. He received three saber wounds, his horse was shot, and he was taken prisoner.

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

Wounds and injuries

What the citation records about his wounds:

He received three saber wounds, his horse was shot, and he was taken prisoner.
  • Age at death: 91
  • Resting place: Lakeside Cemetery

Battles and campaigns

1865 · Civil War

Battle of Waynesboro, Virginia

Result: Union victory; Destruction of Early's Army of the Valley

8 Medal of Honor recipients

Places

  • Born: Tiverton — map
  • Died: East Providence — map
  • Buried: Lakeside-Carpenter Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Rhode Island →

Timeline

  1. July 22, 1837
    Born in Tiverton, Newport County, Rhode Island
  2. September 28, 1864
    Act of valor — Waynesboro, Virginia
    Age 27. Company C, 1st Rhode Island Cavalry
  3. August 3, 1897
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. August 29, 1928
    Died in East Providence, Rhode Island
    Age 91.
  5. Resting place
    Lakeside Cemetery
    Rumford, Rhode Island

Biography

Captain George Newman Bliss (July 22, 1837 – August 29, 1928) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Bliss received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his actions to counter a Confederate advance in Waynesboro, Virginia on 28 September 1864. He was honored with the award on 3 August 1897.

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

More Civil War recipients from Rhode Island

William J. Babcock Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 Samuel E. Lewis Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 JB James H. Burbank Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1862 GP George W. Potter Private · Army Civil War · 1865 CE Charles D. Ennis Private · Army Civil War · 1865 JT Joseph Taylor 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.