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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Commissary Sergeant · U.S. Army

John Galloway

Commissary Sergeant John Galloway, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on April 7, 1865 in Farmville, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War April 7, 1865

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Commissary Sergeant John Galloway received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 7, 1865 in Farmville, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry. Galloway was about 22 years old.

One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on October 30, 1897, 32 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of First Lieutenant.

Galloway was born in 1843 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Galloway died on May 23, 1904 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the age of about 61. He is buried at Mount Moriah Cemetery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Galloway 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

His regiment being surprised and nearly overwhelmed, he dashed forward under a heavy fire, reached the right of the regiment, where the danger was greatest, rallied the men, and prevented a disaster that was imminent.

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

Places

  • Born: Philadelphia — map
  • Buried: Mount Moriah Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →

Timeline

  1. 1843
    Born in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
  2. April 7, 1865
    Act of valor — Farmville, Virginia
    Age about 22. 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry
  3. October 30, 1897
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. May 23, 1904
    Died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    Age about 61.
  5. Resting place
    Mount Moriah Cemetery
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Biography

Commissary Sergeant John Galloway (c. 1843 – May 23, 1904) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Galloway received his country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action at Farmville, Virginia in April 1865. He was honored with the award on October 30, 1897. He is the brother of fellow Medal of Honor recipient George N. Galloway. Galloway joined the 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry from Philadelphia in August 1861. He was promoted to regimental commissary sergeant in January 1865, and was discharged the following July with the rank of first lieutenant.

From the Wikipedia article “John Galloway (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Further reading

Also honored for actions on April 7, 1865

William Ludgate Captain · Army Civil War · 1865

More Civil War recipients from Pennsylvania

Thomas R. Hawkins Sergeant Major · Army Civil War · 1864 PM Patrick H. Monaghan Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 GM George Washington Mindil Captain · Army Civil War · 1862 JM John William Mostoller Private · Army Civil War · 1864 HB Henry Brutsche Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1863 WF West Funk Major · 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.