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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

First Lieutenant · U.S. Army

James Burton Pond

First Lieutenant James Burton Pond, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on October 6, 1863 at Baxter Springs, Kansas during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War October 6, 1863

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, First Lieutenant James Burton Pond received the Medal of Honor for his actions on October 6, 1863 at Baxter Springs, Kansas during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company C, 3d Wisconsin Cavalry. Pond was 25 years old.

The medal was presented on March 30, 1898, 34 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Major.

Pond was born on June 11, 1838 in Allegany, Cattaraugus County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to Janesville, Rock County, Wisconsin. Pond died on June 21, 1903 in Jersey City, New Jersey, at the age of 65. He is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Bronx, New York. His medal is held by Civil War Museum, Kenosha, WI.

Pond is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 50 credited to Wisconsin.

Official Medal of Honor citation

While in command of two companies of cavalry, was surprised and attacked by several times his own number of guerrillas, but gallantly rallied his men, and after a severe struggle drove the enemy outside the fortifications. First Lt. Pond then went outside the works and, alone and unaided, fired a howitzer three times, throwing the enemy into confusion and causing him to retire.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: Battle of Fort Blair, American Civil War.

Life beyond the battlefield

  • Occupations: editor

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: Allegany County — map
  • Died: Jersey City — map
  • Buried: Woodlawn Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Wisconsin →

Timeline

  1. June 11, 1838
    Born in Allegany, Cattaraugus County, New York
  2. October 6, 1863
    Act of valor — Baxter Springs, Kansas
    Age 25. Company C, 3d Wisconsin Cavalry
  3. March 30, 1898
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. June 21, 1903
    Died in Jersey City, New Jersey
    Age 65.
  5. Resting place
    Woodlawn Cemetery
    Bronx, New York

Biography

James Burton Pond (June 11, 1838 – June 21, 1903) was an abolitionist and an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. For his actions during the Battle of Baxter Springs, he received the Medal of Honor. Returning to civilian life, he became a successful lecture manager whose clients included Mark Twain, Winston Churchill, and Henry Morton Stanley.

From the Wikipedia article “James Pond (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Further reading

Same unit

GP George F. Pond Private · Army Civil War · 1864

More Civil War recipients from Wisconsin

HE Horace Ellis Private · Army Civil War · 1864 ET Edwin M. Truell Private · Army Civil War · 1864 JD John S. Durham Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1862 Jefferson Coates Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 DM Daniel B. Moore Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 Arthur MacArthur Jr. First Lieutenant & Adjutant · 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.