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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Corporal · U.S. Army

James K. Merrifield

Corporal James K. Merrifield, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on November 30, 1864 in Franklin, Tennessee during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War November 30, 1864

Corporal James K. Merrifield was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on November 30, 1864 in Franklin, Tennessee during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company C, 88th Illinois Infantry. Merrifield was 20 years old.

13 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on March 28, 1896, 31 years after the action.

Merrifield was born on August 20, 1844 in Hyde Park, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to Manlius, Bureau County, Illinois. Merrifield died on September 7, 1918 in St. Louis, Missouri, at the age of 74. He is buried at Valhalla Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri.

Merrifield is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 210 credited to Illinois.

★ Flags & Colors

Official Medal of Honor citation

Captured two battle flags from the enemy and returned with them to his own lines.

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

Timeline

  1. August 20, 1844
    Born in Hyde Park, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
  2. November 30, 1864
    Act of valor — Franklin, Tennessee
    Age 20. Company C, 88th Illinois Infantry
  3. March 28, 1896
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. September 7, 1918
    Died in St. Louis, Missouri
    Age 74.
  5. Resting place
    Valhalla Cemetery
    St. Louis, Missouri

Also honored for actions on November 30, 1864

OB Orson W. Bennett First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864 JB John Harties Brown Captain · Army Civil War · 1864 Thomas Foulds Ellsworth Captain · Army Civil War · 1864 JG John C. Gaunt Private · Army Civil War · 1864 GG George Edward Gouraud Captain & Aide-de-Camp · Army Civil War · 1864 Abraham Greenawalt Private · Army Civil War · 1864 NH Newton H. Hall Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 George V. Kelley Captain · Army Civil War · 1864 AR Alfred Ransbottom First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 JR John Henry Ricksecker Private · Army Civil War · 1864 Andrew Jackson Smith Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 ✦ David Sloane Stanley Major General · Army Civil War · 1864

See all 14 recipients for November 30, 1864 →

More Civil War recipients from Illinois

LH Lemuel F. Holland Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 JM John Wade McDonald Private · Army Civil War · 1862 George Henry Stockman First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1863 Thomas J. Ward Private · Army Civil War · 1863 Douglas Hapeman Lieutenant Colonel · Army Civil War · 1864 Benona Sprague Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863
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.