Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Sergeant Major John Calvin Curtis received the Medal of Honor for his actions on August 5, 1862 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 9th Connecticut Infantry. Curtis was 17 years old.
The medal was presented on December 16, 1896, 34 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of First Lieutenant.
Curtis was born on April 19, 1845 in Bridgeport, Fairfield County, Connecticut. Curtis died on January 17, 1917 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, at the age of 71. He is buried at Mountain Grove Cemetery in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Curtis is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 57 credited to Connecticut.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Voluntarily sought the line of battle and alone and unaided captured two prisoners, driving them before him to regimental headquarters at the point of the bayonet.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: Battle of Baton Rouge, American Civil War.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Connecticut →
Timeline
- April 19, 1845Born in Bridgeport, Fairfield County, Connecticut
- August 5, 1862Act of valor — Baton Rouge, LouisianaAge 17. 9th Connecticut Infantry
- December 16, 1896Medal of Honor presented
- January 17, 1917Died in Bridgeport, ConnecticutAge 71.
- Resting placeMountain Grove CemeteryBridgeport, Connecticut
Biography
John Calvin Curtis (April 17, 1845 – January 17, 1917) was a Lieutenant of the Ninth Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry in the American Civil War, and a Medal of Honor recipient. Curtis was born on April 17, 1845, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He enlisted in the Ninth Regiment on August 17, 1861. On August 5, 1862, as a Sergeant-Major at age 17, he became instrumental in repulsing a Confederate attack aimed at recapturing Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
From the Wikipedia article “John C. Curtis”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
