Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Sergeant James Wiley received the Medal of Honor for his actions on July 3, 1863 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company B, 59th New York Infantry. Wiley was about 28 years old.
30 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on December 1, 1864.
Wiley was born in 1835 in Ohio. His Medal of Honor is credited to Bellville, Richland County, Ohio. Wiley died on February 7, 1865 in Andersonville, Georgia, US, at the age of about 30. He is buried at Andersonville National Historical Site in Andersonville, Georgia. His medal is held by National Archives & Records Administration, Washington, DC.
Wiley 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
Capture of flag of a Georgia regiment.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Places
- Buried: Andersonville National Cemetery — map
Timeline
- 1835Born in Ohio
- July 3, 1863Act of valor — Gettysburg, PennsylvaniaAge about 28. Company B, 59th New York Infantry
- December 1, 1864Medal of Honor presented
- February 7, 1865Died in Andersonville, Georgia, USAge about 30.
- Resting placeAndersonville National Historical SiteAndersonville, Georgia
Biography
James Wiley (c. 1835 – February 7, 1865) was an American soldier who fought with the Union Army in the American Civil War. Wiley received his country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for actions taken on July 3, 1863, during the Battle of Gettysburg.
From the Wikipedia article “James Wiley (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
