Colonel James Martinus Schoonmaker, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on September 19, 1864 in Winchester, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 14th Pennsylvania Cavalry. Schoonmaker was 22 years old.
14 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on May 19, 1899, 34 years after the action.
Schoonmaker was born on June 30, 1842 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Schoonmaker died on October 11, 1927 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at the age of 85. He is buried at Homewood Cemetery in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His medal is held by Marshall Museum, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, VA.
Schoonmaker 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
At a critical period, gallantly led a cavalry charge against the left of the enemy's line of battle, drove the enemy out of his works, and captured many prisoners.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →
Timeline
- June 30, 1842Born in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
- September 19, 1864Act of valor — Winchester, VirginiaAge 22. 14th Pennsylvania Cavalry
- May 19, 1899Medal of Honor presented
- October 11, 1927Died in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaAge 85.
- Resting placeHomewood CemeteryPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Biography
James Martinus Schoonmaker Sr. (June 30, 1842 – October 11, 1927) was a colonel in the Union Army in the American Civil War and a vice-president of the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry at the Third Battle of Winchester on September 19, 1864.
From the Wikipedia article “James Martinus Schoonmaker”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
