Corporal John Calvin Matthews was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 2, 1865 in Petersburg, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company A, 61st Pennsylvania Infantry. Matthews was 20 years old.
65 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on February 13, 1891, 25 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Sergeant.
Matthews was born on March 29, 1845 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to Greensburg, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Matthews died on October 24, 1934 in Akron, Ohio, at the age of 89. He is buried at Homewood Cemetery in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His medal is held by Soldier & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum, Pittsburgh, PA.
Matthews is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Voluntarily took the colors, whose bearer had been disabled, and, although himself severely wounded, carried the same until the enemy's works were taken.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and injuries
What the citation records about his wounds:
Voluntarily took the colors, whose bearer had been disabled, and, although himself severely wounded, carried the same until the enemy's works were taken.
- Age at death: 89
- Resting place: Homewood Cemetery
Timeline
- March 29, 1845Born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
- April 2, 1865Act of valor — Petersburg, VirginiaAge 20. Company A, 61st Pennsylvania Infantry
- February 13, 1891Medal of Honor presented
- October 24, 1934Died in Akron, OhioAge 89.
- Resting placeHomewood CemeteryPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
