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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

First Lieutenant & Adjutant · U.S. Army

James W. Archer

First Lieutenant & Adjutant James W. Archer, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on October 4, 1862 in Corinth, Mississippi during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War October 4, 1862

First Lieutenant & Adjutant James W. Archer was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on October 4, 1862 in Corinth, Mississippi during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 59th Indiana Infantry. Archer was 34 years old.

One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on August 2, 1897, 34 years after the action.

Archer was born on September 6, 1828 in Edgar County, Illinois. His Medal of Honor is credited to Spencer, Owen County, Indiana. Archer died on January 28, 1908 in Washington, District of Columbia, at the age of 79. He is buried at Riverside Cemetery in Spencer, Indiana.

Archer is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 75 credited to Indiana.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Voluntarily took command of another regiment, with the consent of one or more of his seniors, who were present, rallied the command and led it in the assault.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: Second Battle of Corinth.

Life beyond the battlefield

  • Occupations: writer

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: Edgar County — map
  • Buried: Spencer — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Indiana →

Timeline

  1. September 6, 1828
    Born in Edgar County, Illinois
  2. October 4, 1862
    Act of valor — Corinth, Mississippi
    Age 34. 59th Indiana Infantry
  3. August 2, 1897
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. January 28, 1908
    Died in Washington, District of Columbia
    Age 79.
  5. Resting place
    Riverside Cemetery
    Spencer, Indiana

Biography

James W. Archer (September 6, 1828 – January 28, 1908) was an American soldier who received the Medal of Honor for valor during the American Civil War.

From the Wikipedia article “James W. Archer”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on October 4, 1862

Wager Swayne Lieutenant Colonel · Army Civil War · 1862

More Civil War recipients from Indiana

WC William Campbell Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1865 George Lovell Banks Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 JP Joseph Rollin Prentice Private · Army Civil War · 1862 RS Reuben Smalley Private · Army Civil War · 1863 LB Louis J. Bruner Private · Army Civil War · 1863 MR Milton F. Russell Captain · Army Civil War · 1862
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.