Veteran in crisis? Dial 988 then press 1 · Text 838255 Next observance: Navy Birthday · October 13
Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

James K. Sturgeon

Private James K. Sturgeon, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on June 15, 1864 at Kenesaw Mountain, Georgia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War June 15, 1864

Private James K. Sturgeon, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on June 15, 1864 at Kenesaw Mountain, Georgia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company F, 46th Ohio Infantry. Sturgeon was 17 years old.

3 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on January 2, 1895, 30 years after the action.

Sturgeon was born on November 5, 1846 in Perry County, Ohio. His Medal of Honor is credited to Lancaster, Fairfield County, Ohio. Sturgeon died on August 19, 1898 in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 51. He is buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.

Sturgeon is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 256 credited to Ohio.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Advanced beyond the lines and in an encounter with three Confederates shot two and took the other prisoner.

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

Timeline

  1. November 5, 1846
    Born in Perry County, Ohio
  2. June 15, 1864
    Act of valor — Kenesaw Mountain, Georgia
    Age 17. Company F, 46th Ohio Infantry
  3. January 2, 1895
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. August 19, 1898
    Died in Los Angeles, California
    Age 51.
  5. Resting place
    Evergreen Cemetery
    Los Angeles, California

Also honored for actions on June 15, 1864

WA William H. Appleton First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864 PH Pitt B. Herington Private · Army Civil War · 1864 WM William B. Mayes Private · Army Civil War · 1864

More Civil War recipients from Ohio

WG William Garrett Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 Richard Enderlin Musician · Army Civil War · 1863 Elbridge Robinson Private · Army Civil War · 1863 HT Howell B. Treat Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 Isaac Gause Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 JH Joseph Hanks Private · 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.