Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Corporal Jacob George Orth received the Medal of Honor for his actions on September 17, 1862 in Antietam, Maryland during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company D, 28th Pennsylvania Infantry. Orth was 24 years old.
18 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on January 15, 1867, 4 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Sergeant.
Orth was born on November 25, 1837 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Orth died on September 11, 1907 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the age of 69. He is buried at West Laurel Cemetery in Bala-Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.
Orth 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
Capture of flag of 7th South Carolina Infantry (C.S.A.), in hand-to-hand encounter, although he was wounded in the shoulder.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and injuries
What the citation records about his wounds:
Capture of flag of 7th South Carolina Infantry (C.S.A.), in hand-to-hand encounter, although he was wounded in the shoulder.
- Age at death: 69
- Resting place: West Laurel Cemetery
Timeline
- November 25, 1837Born in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
- September 17, 1862Act of valor — Antietam, MarylandAge 24. Company D, 28th Pennsylvania Infantry
- January 15, 1867Medal of Honor presented
- September 11, 1907Died in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaAge 69.
- Resting placeWest Laurel CemeteryBala-Cynwyd, Pennsylvania
