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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Lieutenant · U.S. Army

James Jackson Purman

Lieutenant James Jackson Purman, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on July 2, 1863 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War July 2, 1863

Lieutenant James Jackson Purman, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on July 2, 1863 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company A, 140th Pennsylvania Infantry. Purman was about 22 years old.

27 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on October 30, 1896, 33 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of First Lieutenant.

Purman was born in 1841 in Greene County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to Waynesburg, Greene County, Pennsylvania. Purman died on May 10, 1915 in Washington, District of Columbia, at the age of about 74. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. His medal is held by Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center, National Cemetery, Gettysburg, PA.

Purman is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Voluntarily assisted a wounded comrade to a place of apparent safety while the enemy were in close proximity; he received the fire of the enemy and a wound which resulted in the amputation of his left leg.

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

Battles and campaigns

1863 · Civil War

Battle of Gettysburg

Result: Union victory

21 Medal of Honor recipients

Places

  • Born: Greene County — map
  • Died: Washington, D.C. — map
  • Buried: Arlington National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →

Timeline

  1. 1841
    Born in Greene County, Pennsylvania
  2. July 2, 1863
    Act of valor — Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
    Age about 22. Company A, 140th Pennsylvania Infantry
  3. October 30, 1896
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. May 10, 1915
    Died in Washington, District of Columbia
    Age about 74.
  5. Resting place
    Arlington National Cemetery
    Arlington, Virginia

Biography

James J. Purman (March 21, 1841 – May 10, 1915) was an American soldier who fought with the Union Army in the American Civil War. Purman received his country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for actions taken on July 2, 1863, during the Battle of Gettysburg.

From the Wikipedia article “James J. Purman”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on July 2, 1863

Nathaniel M. Allen Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 CC Casper R. Carlisle Private · Army Civil War · 1863 Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain Colonel · Army Civil War · 1863 Harrison Clark Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 John Barclay Fassett Captain · Army Civil War · 1863 Chester S. Furman Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 RG Richard J. Gage Private · Army Civil War · 1863 JH John William Hart Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 LH Lemuel F. Holland Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 TH Thomas Horan Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 GH George L. Houghton Private · Army Civil War · 1863 WJ Wallace W. Johnson Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863

See all 28 recipients for July 2, 1863 →

Same unit

James Milton Pipes Captain · Army Civil War · 1864

More Civil War recipients from Pennsylvania

Solomon J. Hottenstine Private · Army Civil War · 1864 JC James G. Clark Private · Army Civil War · 1864 WW William Williams Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1863 Charles D. Marquette Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 NM Nathaniel A. McKown Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 CD Charles Deakin Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1864
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.