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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Corporal · U.S. Army

James Albert Barber

Corporal James Albert Barber, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on April 2, 1865 in Petersburg, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War April 2, 1865

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Corporal James Albert Barber received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 2, 1865 in Petersburg, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery. Barber was 23 years old.

65 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on June 20, 1866.

Barber was born on July 11, 1841 in Westerly, Washington County, Rhode Island. Barber died on June 26, 1925, at the age of 83. He is buried at River Bend Cemetery in Westerly, Rhode Island.

Barber is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 31 credited to Rhode Island.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Was one of a detachment of 20 picked artillerymen who voluntarily accompanied an infantry assaulting party, and who turned upon the enemy the guns captured in the assault.

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

Battles and campaigns

1865 · Civil War

Third Battle of Petersburg

Result: Union victory: End of the Siege of Petersburg and opening of the Appomattox Campaign

21 Medal of Honor recipients

Places

  • Born: Westerly — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Rhode Island →

Timeline

  1. July 11, 1841
    Born in Westerly, Washington County, Rhode Island
  2. April 2, 1865
    Act of valor — Petersburg, Virginia
    Age 23. 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery
  3. June 20, 1866
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. June 26, 1925
    Died
    Age 83.
  5. Resting place
    River Bend Cemetery
    Westerly, Rhode Island

Biography

Corporal James Albert Barber (July 11, 1841 – June 26, 1925) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Barber was awarded the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action at Petersburg, Virginia in April 1865. He was presented with the award on June 20, 1866.

From the Wikipedia article “James A. Barber”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on April 2, 1865

AA Abner Peeler Allen Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 AA Andrew O. Apple Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 William J. Babcock Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 EB Eugene Beauharnais Beaumont Major and Assistant Adjutant General · Army Civil War · 1865 William Robert douglas Blackwood Surgeon · Army Civil War · 1865 JB John W. Boutwell Private · Army Civil War · 1865 JB John E. Buffington Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 CC Carlton N. Camp Private · Army Civil War · 1865 JC John Corcoran Private · Army Civil War · 1865 Stephen Potter Corliss First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 JC Josiah M. Curtis Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 Thomas Ward Custer Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865

See all 66 recipients for April 2, 1865 →

More Civil War recipients from Rhode Island

GR George E. Read Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864 BC Benjamin Ham Child Corporal · Army Civil War · 1862 JT Joseph Taylor Private · Army Civil War · 1864 Zenas Randall Bliss Colonel · Army Civil War · 1862 TP Thomas Parker Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 GM George E. McDonald Private · Army Civil War · 1865
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.