Private James A. Campbell, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on April 5, 1865 in Woodstock & Amelia Courthouse, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company A, 2d New York Cavalry. Campbell was 20 years old.
13 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on October 30, 1897, 32 years after the action.
Campbell was born on December 20, 1844 in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York, New York. Campbell died on May 6, 1904 in Fort Snelling, Minnesota, at the age of 59. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
Campbell is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 678 credited to New York.
Official Medal of Honor citation
While his command was retreating before superior numbers at Woodstock, Va., he voluntarily rushed back with one companion and rescued his commanding officer, who had been unhorsed and left behind. At Amelia Courthouse captured two battle flags.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
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Timeline
- December 20, 1844Born in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York
- April 5, 1865Act of valor — Woodstock & Amelia Courthouse, VirginiaAge 20. Company A, 2d New York Cavalry
- October 30, 1897Medal of Honor presented
- May 6, 1904Died in Fort Snelling, MinnesotaAge 59.
- Resting placeArlington National CemeteryArlington, Virginia
Biography
James Alexander Campbell (December 20, 1844 – May 6, 1904) was a United States soldier who fought with the Union Army as a member of Companies A and C of the 2nd New York Cavalry Regiment during the American Civil War. He received his nation's highest award for bravery during combat, the U.S. Medal of Honor, for his action at Woodstock in Virginia on January 22, 1865 and at Amelia Courthouse in Virginia on April 5, 1865. That award was conferred on October 30, 1897. In describing Campbell's patriotism and valor, Union Major-General Philip Sheridan said, "This country will never know how much it owes to James A. Campbell."
From the Wikipedia article “James A. Campbell (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
