Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Private James Holehouse received the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 3, 1863 at Marye's Heights, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company B, 7th Massachusetts Infantry. Holehouse was 23 years old.
29 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on September 10, 1897, 34 years after the action.
Holehouse was born on December 25, 1839 in Stockport, England — one of 98 recipients born in England. His Medal of Honor is credited to Fall River, Bristol County, Massachusetts. Holehouse died on May 20, 1915 in Chelsea, Massachusetts, at the age of 75. He is buried at Oak Grove Cemetery in Fall River, Massachusetts. Records also list him as Holehouse, John.
Holehouse is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 265 credited to Massachusetts.
Official Medal of Honor citation
With one companion voluntarily and with conspicuous daring advanced beyond his regiment, which had been broken in the assault, and halted beneath the crest. Following the example of these two men, the colors were brought to the summit, the regiment was advanced, and the position held.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Places
- Buried: Oak Grove Cemetery — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →
Timeline
- December 25, 1839Born in Stockport, England
- May 3, 1863Act of valor — Marye's Heights, VirginiaAge 23. Company B, 7th Massachusetts Infantry
- September 10, 1897Medal of Honor presented
- May 20, 1915Died in Chelsea, MassachusettsAge 75.
- Resting placeOak Grove CemeteryFall River, Massachusetts
Biography
James Holehouse (December 25, 1839 - May 20, 1915) was an English born soldier in the Union Army during the American Civil War and recipient of the Medal of Honor.
From the Wikipedia article “James Holehouse”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
