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Private · U.S. Army

Jacob Parrott

Private Jacob Parrott, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on April 5, 1862 in Georgia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War April 5, 1862

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Private Jacob Parrott received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 5, 1862 in Georgia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company K, 33d Ohio Infantry. Parrott was 18 years old.

The medal was presented on March 25, 1863. Washington, D.C., presented by Sec. of War Edwin M. Stanton. He later rose to the rank of First Lieutenant.

Parrott was born on July 17, 1843 in Fairfield County, Ohio. His Medal of Honor is credited to Kenton, Hardin County, Ohio. Parrott died on December 22, 1908 in Buck, Ohio, at the age of 65. He is buried at Grove Cemetery in Kenton, Ohio. His medal is held by West Point Museum (1863 design), West Point, NY ; Hardin County Museums (1904 design), Kenton, OH.

Parrott is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 256 credited to Ohio.

Official Medal of Honor citation

One of 19 of 24 men (including two civilians) who, by direction of Gen. Ormsby M. Mitchell, penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory and captured a railroad train at Big Shanty, Ga., in an attempt to destroy the bridges and track between Chattanooga and Atlanta.

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

How he died

  • Manner of death: natural causes
  • Cause of death: myocardial infarction
  • Age at death: 65
  • Resting place: Grove Cemetery

Cause and manner of death: Wikidata.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Life beyond the battlefield

  • Occupations: cabinetmaker

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: Fairfield County — map
  • Died: Kenton — map
  • Buried: Grove Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Ohio →

Timeline

  1. July 17, 1843
    Born in Fairfield County, Ohio
  2. April 5, 1862
    Act of valor — Georgia
    Age 18. Company K, 33d Ohio Infantry
  3. March 25, 1863
    Medal of Honor presented
    Washington, D.C., presented by Sec. of War Edwin M. Stanton
  4. December 22, 1908
    Died in Buck, Ohio
    Age 65.
  5. Resting place
    Grove Cemetery
    Kenton, Ohio

Biography

Jacob Wilson Parrott (July 17, 1843 – December 22, 1908) was an American soldier and carpenter. He was the first recipient of the Medal of Honor, a new military award first presented by the United States Department of War to six Union Army soldiers who participated in the Great Locomotive Chase in 1862 during the American Civil War (1861–1865).

From the Wikipedia article “Jacob Parrott”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Further reading

More Civil War recipients from Ohio

NW Nelson W. Ward Private · Army Civil War · 1864 Richard Willis Dewitt Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 CS Christian Schnell Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 Isaac Harrison Carmin Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 Frederick Phisterer First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1862 Powhatan Beaty First Sergeant · Army 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.