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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Sergeant · U.S. Army

John Christopher Sagelhurst

Sergeant John Christopher Sagelhurst, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on February 6, 1865 at Hatcher's Run, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War February 6, 1865

Sergeant John Christopher Sagelhurst, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on February 6, 1865 at Hatcher's Run, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company B, 1st New Jersey Cavalry. Sagelhurst was 23 years old.

9 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on January 3, 1906, 40 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of First Sergeant.

Sagelhurst was born on June 1, 1841 in Buffalo, Erie County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey. Sagelhurst died on May 10, 1907 in Buffalo, New York, at the age of 65. He is buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, New York. Records also list him as Segelhurst, John Christopher.

Sagelhurst is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 93 credited to New Jersey.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Under a heavy fire from the enemy carried off the field a commissioned officer who was severely wounded and also led a charge on the enemy's rifle pits.

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

Battles and campaigns

1865 · Civil War

Battle of Hatcher's Run

Result: Union victory

5 Medal of Honor recipients

Places

  • Born: Buffalo — map
  • Buried: Forest Lawn Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New Jersey →

Timeline

  1. June 1, 1841
    Born in Buffalo, Erie County, New York
  2. February 6, 1865
    Act of valor — Hatcher's Run, Virginia
    Age 23. Company B, 1st New Jersey Cavalry
  3. January 3, 1906
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. May 10, 1907
    Died in Buffalo, New York
    Age 65.
  5. Resting place
    Forest Lawn Cemetery
    Buffalo, New York

Biography

John Christopher Sagelhurst (June 1, 1841 - May 10, 1907) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Sagelhurst received his country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor. Sagelhurst's medal was won for his gallantry at the Battle of Hatcher's Run in Virginia on February 6, 1865. He was honored with the award on January 3, 1906. Sagelhurst was born in Buffalo, New York, entered service in Jersey City, New Jersey, and was later buried in Buffalo.

From the Wikipedia article “John C. Sagelhurst”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on February 6, 1865

AC Abel G. Cadwallader Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 DC Daniel G. Caldwell Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 JC James Coey Major · Army Civil War · 1865 CD Charles Day Private · Army Civil War · 1865 John Carroll Delaney Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 WS William Sands First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 FS Francis M. Smith First Lieutenant & Adjutant · Army Civil War · 1865 JT John J. Thompson Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 John Mitchell Vanderslice Private · Army Civil War · 1865

More Civil War recipients from New Jersey

Thomas Timothy Fallon Private · Army Civil War · 1864 WM William Magee Drummer · Army Civil War · 1864 CH Charles F. Hopkins Corporal · Army Civil War · 1862 CS Christian Streile Private · Army Civil War · 1865 AT Aaron B. Tompkins Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 CT Charles Titus Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865
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.