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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Sergeant · U.S. Army

James Drury

Sergeant James Drury, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on June 23, 1864 in Weldon Railroad, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War June 23, 1864Born in Ireland

Sergeant James Drury, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on June 23, 1864 in Weldon Railroad, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company C, 4th Vermont Infantry. Drury was 26 years old.

3 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on January 18, 1893, 28 years after the action.

Drury was born on August 15, 1837 in Limerick, County Limerick, Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Chester, Windsor County, Vermont. Drury died on December 25, 1919 in Lovilia, Iowa, at the age of 82. He is buried at St. Peter's Cemetery in Lovilia, Iowa.

Drury is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 47 credited to Vermont.

★ Flags & Colors

Official Medal of Honor citation

Saved the colors of his regiment when it was surrounded by a much larger force of the enemy and after the greater part of the regiment had been killed or captured.

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

Timeline

  1. August 15, 1837
    Born in Limerick, County Limerick, Ireland
  2. June 23, 1864
    Act of valor — Weldon Railroad, Virginia
    Age 26. Company C, 4th Vermont Infantry
  3. January 18, 1893
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. December 25, 1919
    Died in Lovilia, Iowa
    Age 82.
  5. Resting place
    St. Peter's Cemetery
    Lovilia, Iowa

Also honored for actions on June 23, 1864

JS John Sullivan Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864 DW David Warren Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1864 WW William Wright Yeoman · Navy Civil War · 1864

More Civil War recipients from Vermont

William Young warren Ripley Lieutenant Colonel · Army Civil War · 1862 EW Eri Davidson Woodbury Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 AT Amasa Sawyer Tracy Lieutenant Colonel · Army Civil War · 1864 Julian A. Scott Drummer · Army Civil War · 1862 Ephraim W. Harrington Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 Jackson G. Sargent Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.