Corporal John A. Falconer was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on November 20, 1863 at Fort Sanders, Knoxville, Tennessee during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company A, 17th Michigan Infantry. Falconer was about 19 years old.
3 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on July 27, 1896, 32 years after the action.
Falconer was born in 1844 in Washtenaw County, Michigan. His Medal of Honor is credited to Manchester, Washtenaw County, Michigan. Falconer died on April 1, 1900 in Warensburg, Missouri, at the age of about 56. He is buried at Sunset Hill Cemetery in Warensburg, Missouri.
Falconer is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 112 credited to Michigan.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Conducted the "burning party" of his regiment at the time a charge was made on the enemy's picket line, and burned the house which had sheltered the enemy's sharpshooters, thus insuring success to a hazardous enterprise.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: Knoxville Campaign.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Michigan →
Timeline
- 1844Born in Washtenaw County, Michigan
- November 20, 1863Act of valor — Fort Sanders, Knoxville, TennesseeAge about 19. Company A, 17th Michigan Infantry
- July 27, 1896Medal of Honor presented
- April 1, 1900Died in Warensburg, MissouriAge about 56.
- Resting placeSunset Hill CemeteryWarensburg, Missouri
Biography
Corporal John A. Falconer (c. 1844 – April 1, 1900) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Falconer received the United States' highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action during the siege of Knoxville at Fort Sanders in Tennessee on November 20, 1863. He was honored with the award on July 27, 1896.
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