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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Sergeant · U.S. Army

James Bennett Bell

Sergeant James Bennett Bell, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on November 25, 1863 at Missionary Ridge, Tennessee during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War November 25, 1863

Sergeant James Bennett Bell was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on November 25, 1863 at Missionary Ridge, Tennessee during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company H, 11th Ohio Infantry. Bell was 28 years old.

15 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on October 9, 1907, 43 years after the action.

Bell was born on August 9, 1835 in Branot, Ohio. His Medal of Honor is credited to Troy, Miami County, Ohio. Bell died on June 30, 1910 in Elkhart, Indiana, at the age of 74. He is buried at Gettysburg Cemetery in Gettysburg, Ohio.

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

★ Flags & Colors

Official Medal of Honor citation

Though severely wounded, was first of his regiment on the summit of the ridge, planted his colors inside the enemy's works, and did not leave the field until after he had been wounded five times.

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

Wounds and injuries

What the citation records about his wounds:

Though severely wounded, was first of his regiment on the summit of the ridge, planted his colors inside the enemy's works, and did not leave the field until after he had been wounded five times.
  • Age at death: 74
  • Resting place: Gettysburg Cemetery

Battles and campaigns

1863 · Civil War

Battle of Missionary Ridge

Result: Union victory

7 Medal of Honor recipients

Places

  • Buried: Gettysburg — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Ohio →

Timeline

  1. August 9, 1835
    Born in Branot, Ohio
  2. November 25, 1863
    Act of valor — Missionary Ridge, Tennessee
    Age 28. Company H, 11th Ohio Infantry
  3. October 9, 1907
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. June 30, 1910
    Died in Elkhart, Indiana
    Age 74.
  5. Resting place
    Gettysburg Cemetery
    Gettysburg, Ohio

Biography

James Bennett Bell (August 9, 1835 – June 30, 1910) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions at the Battle of Missionary Ridge on November 25, 1863. Bell died on June 30, 1910.

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

Also honored for actions on November 25, 1863

George Lovell Banks Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 Henry Van ness Boynton Lieutenant Colonel · Army Civil War · 1863 CB Charles W. Brouse Captain · Army Civil War · 1863 Robert Bruce Brown Private · Army Civil War · 1863 FD Freeman Davis Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 Thomas N. Graham Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1863 George Green Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 Hiram Reese Howard Private · Army Civil War · 1863 RJ Ruel M. Johnson Major · Army Civil War · 1863 SJ Simeon T. Josselyn First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1863 Leverett Mansfield Kelley Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 John S. Kountz Musician · Army Civil War · 1863

See all 16 recipients for November 25, 1863 →

More Civil War recipients from Ohio

Jacob Parrott Private · Army Civil War · 1862 Elbridge Robinson Private · Army Civil War · 1863 JY Jacob F. Yeager Private · Army Civil War · 1864 WS William H. Surles Private · Army Civil War · 1862 LS Louis Capet Shepard Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 JB John Brown First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863
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.