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

Private · U.S. Army

Jacob H. Overturf

Private Jacob H. Overturf, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on May 22, 1863 in Vicksburg, Mississippi during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War May 22, 1863

Private Jacob H. Overturf was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 22, 1863 in Vicksburg, Mississippi during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company K, 83d Indiana Infantry. Overturf was 21 years old.

99 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on August 13, 1894, 31 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Sergeant.

Overturf was born on January 7, 1842 in Jefferson County, Indiana. His Medal of Honor is credited to Holton, Ripley County, Indiana. Overturf died on September 10, 1900 in Holton, Indiana, at the age of 58. He is buried at Holton Cemetery in Holton, Indiana. His medal is held by Jefferson County Historical Society Heritage Center, Madison, IN.

Overturf 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

Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party."

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

Timeline

  1. January 7, 1842
    Born in Jefferson County, Indiana
  2. May 22, 1863
    Act of valor — Vicksburg, Mississippi
    Age 21. Company K, 83d Indiana Infantry
  3. August 13, 1894
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. September 10, 1900
    Died in Holton, Indiana
    Age 58.
  5. Resting place
    Holton Cemetery
    Holton, Indiana

Also honored for actions on May 22, 1863

CA Christian Albert Private · Army Civil War · 1863 WA William J. Archinal Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 CA Clinton Lycurgus Armstrong Private · Army Civil War · 1863 DA David Ayers Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 JA John G. k Ayers Private · Army Civil War · 1863 WB William H. Barringer Private · Army Civil War · 1863 MB Matthew Bickford Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 TB Thomas A. Blasdel Private · Army Civil War · 1863 EB Emmer Bowen Private · Army Civil War · 1863 UB Uriah H. Brown Private · Army Civil War · 1863 WB William P. Brownell Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1863 JB John C. Buckley Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863

See all 100 recipients for May 22, 1863 →

More Civil War recipients from Indiana

WK William Wesley Kendall First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 LB Louis J. Bruner Private · Army Civil War · 1863 JD John Davis Private · Army Civil War · 1865 Thomas J. Box Captain · Army Civil War · 1864 RJ Ruel M. Johnson Major · Army Civil War · 1863 WH William T. Holmes Private · Army Civil War · 1865
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.