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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Sergeant · U.S. Army

James Madison Burns

Sergeant James Madison Burns, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on May 15, 1864 in New Market, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War May 15, 1864

Sergeant James Madison Burns, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on May 15, 1864 in New Market, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company B, 1st West Virginia Infantry. Burns was 18 years old.

5 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on November 20, 1896, 32 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Burns was born on August 9, 1845 in Wells Township, Jefferson County, Ohio. His Medal of Honor is credited to Wellsburg, Brooke County, West Virginia. Burns died on October 30, 1910 in Lebanon, Ohio, at the age of 65. He is buried at Lebanon Cemetery in Lebanon, Ohio. His medal is held by New Market Battlefield State Historical Park, New Market, VA ; Marshall Museum, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, VA.

Burns is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 45 credited to West Virginia.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Under a heavy fire of musketry, rallied a few men to the support of the colors, in danger of capture, and bore them to a place of safety. One of his comrades having been severely wounded in the effort, Sgt. Burns went back a hundred yards in the face of the enemy's fire and carried the wounded man from the field.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Wells Township — map
  • Died: Ohio — map
  • Buried: Lebanon Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in West Virginia →

Timeline

  1. August 9, 1845
    Born in Wells Township, Jefferson County, Ohio
  2. May 15, 1864
    Act of valor — New Market, Virginia
    Age 18. Company B, 1st West Virginia Infantry
  3. November 20, 1896
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. October 30, 1910
    Died in Lebanon, Ohio
    Age 65.
  5. Resting place
    Lebanon Cemetery
    Lebanon, Ohio

Biography

James Madison Burns (August 9, 1845 – October 30, 1910) was a Union Army soldier and officer during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the Battle of New Market Virginia on May 15, 1864. The original medal is on exhibit at the Virginia Museum of the Civil War located on the battlefield. Following the war, Burns was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the US Army, eventually reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel. He also served in the Indian Wars and the Spanish–American War, until retiring due to disability in 1899.

From the Wikipedia article “James M. Burns (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on May 15, 1864

TC Thomas D. Collins Sr. Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 TC Thomas Cosgrove Private · Army Civil War · 1864 PO Paul Ambrose Oliver Captain · Army Civil War · 1864 GP George F. Pond Private · Army Civil War · 1864 Henry Edwin Tremain Major & Aide-de-Camp · Army Civil War · 1864

More Civil War recipients from West Virginia

AW Adam White Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 DW Daniel A. Woods Private · Army Civil War · 1865 Emisire Shahan Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 TA Thomas Anderson Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 CS Charles Schorn Chief Bugler · Army Civil War · 1865 JM Joseph McCauslin Private · Army Civil War · 1865
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.