Veteran in crisis? Dial 988 then press 1 · Text 838255 Next observance: Navy Birthday · October 13
Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

First Lieutenant · U.S. Army

Henry Clay Wood

First Lieutenant Henry Clay Wood, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on August 10, 1861 at Wilson's Creek, Missouri during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War August 10, 1861

First Lieutenant Henry Clay Wood, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on August 10, 1861 at Wilson's Creek, Missouri during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 11th U.S. Infantry. Wood was 29 years old.

4 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on October 28, 1893, 32 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Brigadier General.

Wood was born on May 26, 1832 in Winthrop, Kennebec County, Maine. Wood died on August 29, 1918, at the age of 86. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

Wood 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

Distinguished gallantry.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Life beyond the battlefield

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: Winthrop — map
  • Died: Portland — map
  • Buried: Arlington National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Maine →

Timeline

  1. May 26, 1832
    Born in Winthrop, Kennebec County, Maine
  2. August 10, 1861
    Act of valor — Wilson's Creek, Missouri
    Age 29. 11th U.S. Infantry
  3. October 28, 1893
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. August 29, 1918
    Died
    Age 86.
  5. Resting place
    Arlington National Cemetery
    Arlington, Virginia

Biography

Henry Clay Wood (May 26, 1832 – August 30, 1918) was a career officer in the United States Army who attained the rank of brigadier general. A Union Army veteran of the American Civil War, he is most notable for his actions at the Battle of Wilson's Creek, which resulted in award of the Medal of Honor.

From the Wikipedia article “Henry Clay Wood”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on August 10, 1861

Nicholas S. Bouquet Private · Army Civil War · 1861 Lorenzo Dow Immell Corporal · Army Civil War · 1861 John Mcallister Schofield Major · Army Civil War · 1861 William Macky Wherry First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1861

Same unit

JC James Madison Cutts Captain · Army Civil War · 1864 John Henry Patterson First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864

More Civil War recipients from Maine

Henry Clay Merriam Lieutenant Colonel · Army Civil War · 1865 Charles Porter Mattocks Colonel · Army Civil War · 1865 HW Henry W. Wheeler Private · Army Civil War · 1861 Albert E. Fernald First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 Andrew Jackson Tozier Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 AW Anthony Williams Sailmaker's Mate · Navy 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.