Captain Henry Coddington Meyer was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on June 17, 1864 in Petersburg, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company D, 24th New York Cavalry. Meyer was 20 years old.
12 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on March 29, 1899, 34 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Brevet Major NY Volunteers.
Meyer was born on April 14, 1844 in Hamburg, Erie County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to Dobbs Ferry, Westchester County, New York. Meyer died on March 27, 1935 in Montclair, New Jersey, at the age of 90. He is buried at Rosedale Cemetery in Orange, New Jersey.
Meyer 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
During an assault and in the face of a heavy fire rendered heroic assistance to a wounded and helpless officer, thereby saving his life and in the performance of this gallant act sustained a severe wound.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and injuries
What the citation records about his wounds:
During an assault and in the face of a heavy fire rendered heroic assistance to a wounded and helpless officer, thereby saving his life and in the performance of this gallant act sustained a severe wound.
- Age at death: 90
- Resting place: Rosedale Cemetery
Timeline
- April 14, 1844Born in Hamburg, Erie County, New York
- June 17, 1864Act of valor — Petersburg, VirginiaAge 20. Company D, 24th New York Cavalry
- March 29, 1899Medal of Honor presented
- March 27, 1935Died in Montclair, New JerseyAge 90.
- Resting placeRosedale CemeteryOrange, New Jersey
