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Captain · U.S. Army

Henry Ware Lawton

Captain Henry Ware Lawton, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on August 3, 1864 in Atlanta, Georgia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War August 3, 1864

Captain Henry Ware Lawton was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on August 3, 1864 in Atlanta, Georgia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company A, 30th Indiana Infantry. Lawton was 21 years old.

The medal was presented on May 22, 1893, 28 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Major General.

Lawton was born on March 17, 1843 in Manhattan, Lucas County, Ohio. His Medal of Honor is credited to Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana. Lawton died on December 19, 1899 in Philippine Islands, at the age of 56. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. His medal is held by National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC.

Lawton is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 75 credited to Indiana.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Led a charge of skirmishers against the enemy rifle pits and stubbornly and successfully resisted two determined attacks of the enemy to retake the works.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: Spanish–American War.

Life beyond the battlefield

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: Maumee — map
  • Buried: Arlington National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Indiana →

Timeline

  1. March 17, 1843
    Born in Manhattan, Lucas County, Ohio
  2. August 3, 1864
    Act of valor — Atlanta, Georgia
    Age 21. Company A, 30th Indiana Infantry
  3. May 22, 1893
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. December 19, 1899
    Died in Philippine Islands
    Age 56.
  5. Resting place
    Arlington National Cemetery
    Arlington, Virginia

Biography

Henry Ware Lawton (March 17, 1843 – December 19, 1899) was a U.S. Army officer who served with distinction in the Civil War, the Apache Wars, and the Spanish–American War. He received the Medal of Honor for heroism during the American Civil War. He was the only U.S. general officer to be killed during the Philippine–American War and the first general officer of the United States killed in overseas action. The city of Lawton, Oklahoma, takes its name from General Lawton, as does a borough in the city of Havana, Cuba. Liwasang Bonifacio (Bonifacio Square) in downtown Manila was formerly named Plaza Lawton in his honor.

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

Named in his honor

More Civil War recipients from Indiana

WC William Campbell Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1865 AH Aaron R. Hudson Private · Army Civil War · 1865 Allan Houston Dougall First Lieutenant & Adjutant · Army Civil War · 1865 CS Charles H. Seston Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 ✦ JS John T. Sterling Private · Army Civil War · 1864 JP Joseph Rollin Prentice Private · Army Civil War · 1862
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.