Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, First Lieutenant Henry G. Bonebrake received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 1, 1865 in Five Forks, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company G, 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry. Bonebrake was 26 years old.
21 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on May 3, 1865.
Bonebrake was born on June 21, 1838 in Waynesboro, Franklin County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Bonebrake died on October 26, 1912 in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, at the age of 74. He is buried at Green Hill Cemetery in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania.
Bonebrake is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.
Official Medal of Honor citation
As one of the first of Devin's Division to enter the works, he fought in a hand-to-hand struggle with a Confederate to capture his flag by superior physical strength.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →
Timeline
- June 21, 1838Born in Waynesboro, Franklin County, Pennsylvania
- April 1, 1865Act of valor — Five Forks, VirginiaAge 26. Company G, 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry
- May 3, 1865Medal of Honor presented
- October 26, 1912Died in Waynesboro, PennsylvaniaAge 74.
- Resting placeGreen Hill CemeteryWaynesboro, Pennsylvania
Biography
Lieutenant Henry G. Bonebrake (June 21, 1838 - October 26, 1912) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Bonebrake received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action during the Battle of Five Forks in Virginia on 1 April 1865. He was honored with the award on 3 May 1865.
From the Wikipedia article “Henry G. Bonebrake”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
