Lieutenant Colonel Henry Clay Merriam was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 9, 1865 at Fort Blakely, Alabama during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 73d U.S. Colored Infantry. Merriam was 27 years old.
18 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on June 28, 1894, 29 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Major General.
Merriam was born on November 13, 1837 in Houlton, Aroostook County, Maine. Merriam died on November 18, 1912, at the age of 75. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
Merriam is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 66 credited to Maine.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Volunteered to attack the enemy's works in advance of orders and, upon permission being given, made a most gallant assault.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Life beyond the battlefield
- Education: Colby College
Source: Wikidata.
Places
Timeline
- November 13, 1837Born in Houlton, Aroostook County, Maine
- April 9, 1865Act of valor — Fort Blakely, AlabamaAge 27. 73d U.S. Colored Infantry
- June 28, 1894Medal of Honor presented
- November 18, 1912DiedAge 75.
- Resting placeArlington National CemeteryArlington, Virginia
Biography
Henry Clay Merriam (November 13, 1837 – November 18, 1912) was a United States Army general. He received the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions as a Union officer in command of African American troops during the American Civil War. He later served in various Indian Wars throughout the western United States and commanded the 7th Infantry Regiment. After being promoted to brigadier general, he took on a training and supply role during the Philippine–American War.
From the Wikipedia article “Henry C. Merriam”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
