Captain & Assistant Adjutant General Henry Cary Weir was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on June 24, 1864 at St. Mary's Church, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S. Volunteers. Weir was 23 years old.
One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on May 18, 1899, 34 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Brevet Lieutenant Colonel.
Weir was born on August 22, 1840 in West Point, Orange County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to Bolivar, Jefferson County, West Virginia. Weir died on April 22, 1927 in Warwick, New York, at the age of 86. He is buried at The Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.
Weir is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 45 credited to West Virginia.
Official Medal of Honor citation
The division being hard-pressed and falling back, this officer dismounted, gave his horse to a wounded officer, and thus enabled him to escape. Afterwards, on foot, Capt. Weir rallied and took command of some stragglers and helped to repel the last charge of the enemy.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Places
- Buried: Green-Wood Cemetery — map
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Timeline
- August 22, 1840Born in West Point, Orange County, New York
- June 24, 1864Act of valor — St. Mary's Church, VirginiaAge 23. U.S. Volunteers
- May 18, 1899Medal of Honor presented
- April 22, 1927Died in Warwick, New YorkAge 86.
- Resting placeThe Green-Wood CemeteryBrooklyn, New York
Biography
Henry Weir (August 22, 1840 – April 22, 1927) was an American soldier who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in the American Civil War. Weir was presented his medal on 18 May, 1899 for his actions as a captain in the U.S Volunteers at St. Mary's Church, Virginia on Jun 24, 1864. He later served as an assistant adjutant general with the rank of major and was breveted to the rank of lieutenant colonel. After the war, he became a companion of the New York Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. He was born in West Point, New York and died in Warwick, New York. He is buried in The Green-Wood Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.
From the Wikipedia article “Henry C. Weir”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
