Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Private James Gardiner received the Medal of Honor for his actions on September 29, 1864 at Chapin's Farm, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company I, 36th U.S. Colored Infantry. Gardiner was 25 years old.
37 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 6, 1865.
Gardiner was born on September 16, 1839 in Gloucester, Gloucester County, Virginia. His Medal of Honor is credited to Yorktown, York County, Virginia. Gardiner died on September 29, 1905 in Clark's Summit, Pennsylvania, at the age of 66. He is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Ottumwa, Iowa. Records also list him as Gardner, James Daniel.
Gardiner is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 48 credited to Virginia.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Rushed in advance of his brigade, shot a rebel officer who was on the parapet rallying his men, and then ran him through with his bayonet.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Virginia →
Timeline
- September 16, 1839Born in Gloucester, Gloucester County, Virginia
- September 29, 1864Act of valor — Chapin's Farm, VirginiaAge 25. Company I, 36th U.S. Colored Infantry
- April 6, 1865Medal of Honor presented
- September 29, 1905Died in Clark's Summit, PennsylvaniaAge 66.
- Resting placeCalvary CemeteryOttumwa, Iowa
Biography
James Daniel Gardner, also spelled as Gardiner (September 16, 1839 – September 29, 1905), was an African American Union Army soldier during the American Civil War and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions at the Battle of Chaffin's Farm.
From the Wikipedia article “James Daniel Gardner”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
