Sergeant James Madison, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on March 2, 1865 in Waynesboro, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company E, 8th New York Cavalry. Madison was about 23 years old.
13 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on March 26, 1865.
Madison was born in 1842 in Niagara, Niagara County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to Fairport, Monroe County, New York. Madison died on August 7, 1926, at the age of about 84. He is buried at San Francisco National Cemetery in San Francisco, California. Records also list him as Congdon, James.
Madison is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 678 credited to New York.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Recapture of Gen. Crook's headquarters flag.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
Timeline
- 1842Born in Niagara, Niagara County, New York
- March 2, 1865Act of valor — Waynesboro, VirginiaAge about 23. Company E, 8th New York Cavalry
- March 26, 1865Medal of Honor presented
- August 7, 1926DiedAge about 84.
- Resting placeSan Francisco National CemeterySan Francisco, California
Biography
James Madison (1842 – August 7, 1926) was a Sergeant in the United States Army and a Medal of Honor recipient for his role in the American Civil War. "James Madison" was an alias: his true name was James Congdon. Congdon enlisted in the Army from Fairport, New York in October 1861, but was discharged for disability in January 1862. Despite this, he re-enlisted in May 1862, and fought at the Battle of Culpeper Court House, where he was wounded. He mustered out with his regiment in June 1865.
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