Sergeant John E. Buffington 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 C, 6th Maryland Infantry. Buffington was 23 years old.
65 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on March 6, 1908, 42 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of First Lieutenant.
Buffington was born on July 3, 1841 in Carroll County, Maryland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Westminster, Carroll County, Maryland. Buffington died on November 22, 1924 in Washington, District of Columbia, at the age of 83. He is buried at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Taneytown, Maryland. His medal is held by Pamplin Historical Park & The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier, Petersburg, VA.
Buffington is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 85 credited to Maryland.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Was the first enlisted man of the 3d Division to mount the parapet of the enemy's line.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Maryland →
Timeline
- July 3, 1841Born in Carroll County, Maryland
- April 2, 1865Act of valor — Petersburg, VirginiaAge 23. Company C, 6th Maryland Infantry
- March 6, 1908Medal of Honor presented
- November 22, 1924Died in Washington, District of ColumbiaAge 83.
- Resting placeTrinity Lutheran CemeteryTaneytown, Maryland
Biography
Sergeant John E. Buffington (July 12, 1839 – April 26, 1915) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Buffington received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action during the Third Battle of Petersburg in Virginia on 2 April 1865. He was honored with the award on 3 April 1908.
From the Wikipedia article “John E. Buffington”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
