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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

James H. Robinson

Private James H. Robinson, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on January 27, 1865 at Brownsville Station, Arkansas during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War January 27, 1865

Private James H. Robinson, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on January 27, 1865 at Brownsville Station, Arkansas during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company B, 3d Michigan Cavalry. Robinson was about 19 years old.

The medal was presented on April 4, 1865.

Robinson was born in 1846 in Oakland County, Michigan. His Medal of Honor is credited to Victor, Clinton County, Michigan. Robinson died on July 26, 1865 in Memphis, Tennessee, at the age of about 19. He is buried at Memphis National Cemetery in Memphis, Tennessee.

Robinson is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 112 credited to Michigan.

★ Single-Handed Actions

Official Medal of Honor citation

Successfully defended himself, singlehandedly, against seven guerrillas, killing the leader (Capt. W.C. Stephenson) and driving off the remainder of the party.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Oakland County — map
  • Died: Memphis — map
  • Buried: Memphis National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Michigan →

Timeline

  1. 1846
    Born in Oakland County, Michigan
  2. January 27, 1865
    Act of valor — Brownsville Station, Arkansas
    Age about 19. Company B, 3d Michigan Cavalry
  3. April 4, 1865
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. July 26, 1865
    Died in Memphis, Tennessee
    Age about 19.
  5. Resting place
    Memphis National Cemetery
    Memphis, Tennessee

Biography

James H. Robinson (died July 26, 1864) was a Union Army soldier who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the American Civil War. A resident of Victor Township, Michigan, Robinson enlisted at the age of 18 in the 3rd Michigan Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, and was mustered in as a private in Company B. On January 27, 1864 at Brownsville, Arkansas, he performed an act of bravery, single-handedly defending himself against a party of seven enemy guerrillas and killing their leader, that garnered him the Medal of Honor. Private Robinson received the Medal of Honor on April 4, 1864.

From the Wikipedia article “James H. Robinson (soldier)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

More Civil War recipients from Michigan

CS Charles Francis Sancrainte Private · Army Civil War · 1864 Patrick Irwin First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 Thomas Ward Custer Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 PS Peter Sype Private · Army Civil War · 1863 AH Addison J. Hodges Private · Army Civil War · 1863 WW William Henry Ward Captain · 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.