Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Sergeant James H. Burbank received the Medal of Honor for his actions on October 3, 1862 at Blackwater River, near Franklin, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company K, 4th Rhode Island Infantry. Burbank was 24 years old.
8 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on July 27, 1896, 33 years after the action.
Burbank was born on January 5, 1838 in Stavorey, Holland (The Netherlands) — one of 6 recipients born in Netherlands. His Medal of Honor is credited to Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island. Burbank died on February 15, 1911 in Miltonvale, Kansas, at the age of 73. He is buried at Miltonvale Cemetery in Miltonvale, Kansas.
Burbank is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 31 credited to Rhode Island.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Gallantry in action while on detached service on board the gunboat Barney.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Rhode Island →
Timeline
- January 5, 1838Born in Stavorey, Holland (The Netherlands)
- October 3, 1862Act of valor — Blackwater River, near Franklin, VirginiaAge 24. Company K, 4th Rhode Island Infantry
- July 27, 1896Medal of Honor presented
- February 15, 1911Died in Miltonvale, KansasAge 73.
- Resting placeMiltonvale CemeteryMiltonvale, Kansas
Biography
Sergeant James H. Burbank (January 5, 1838 – February 15, 1911) was a Dutch soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Burbank received the United States' highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action at Blackwater near Franklin, Virginia, on 3 October 1862. He was honored with the award on 27 July 1896.
From the Wikipedia article “James H. Burbank”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
