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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

First Lieutenant · U.S. Army

James Hill

First Lieutenant James Hill, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on May 16, 1863 at Champion Hill, Mississippi during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War May 16, 1863Born in England

First Lieutenant James Hill, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on May 16, 1863 at Champion Hill, Mississippi during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company I, 21st Iowa Infantry. Hill was 40 years old.

One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on March 15, 1893, 29 years after the action.

Hill was born on December 6, 1822 in Bristol, England — one of 98 recipients born in England. His Medal of Honor is credited to Cascade, Dubuque County, Iowa. Hill died on September 22, 1899 in Cascade, Dubuque County, Iowa, at the age of 76. He is buried at Cascade Community Cemetery in Cascade, New York.

Hill is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 55 credited to Iowa.

Official Medal of Honor citation

By skillful and brave management captured three of the enemy's pickets.

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

Timeline

  1. December 6, 1822
    Born in Bristol, England
  2. May 16, 1863
    Act of valor — Champion Hill, Mississippi
    Age 40. Company I, 21st Iowa Infantry
  3. March 15, 1893
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. September 22, 1899
    Died in Cascade, Dubuque County, Iowa
    Age 76.
  5. Resting place
    Cascade Community Cemetery
    Cascade, New York

Further reading

Also honored for actions on May 16, 1863

GW George Wilhelm Captain · Army Civil War · 1863

More Civil War recipients from Iowa

RM Richard H. Morgan Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 George Washington Healey Private · Army Civil War · 1864 WM William C. May Private · Army Civil War · 1864 James P. Miller Private · Army Civil War · 1865 Voltare Paine Twombly Corporal · Army Civil War · 1862 HS Henry I. Smith First Lieutenant · 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.