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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

John H. Harbourne

Private John H. Harbourne, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on June 17, 1864 in Petersburg, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War June 17, 1864Born in England

Private John H. Harbourne was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on June 17, 1864 in Petersburg, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company K, 29th Massachusetts Infantry. Harbourne was 23 years old.

12 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on February 24, 1897, 32 years after the action.

Harbourne was born on September 9, 1840 in England — one of 98 recipients born in England. His Medal of Honor is credited to Readville, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. Harbourne died on November 29, 1928 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the age of 88. He is buried at Fernwood Cemetery in Fernwood, Pennsylvania.

Harbourne is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 265 credited to Massachusetts.

★ Flags & Colors

Official Medal of Honor citation

Capture of flag along with three enemy men.

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

Battles and campaigns

1864 · Civil War

Second Battle of Petersburg

Result: Confederate victory

8 Medal of Honor recipients

Places

  • Born: England — map
  • Buried: Delaware County — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →

Timeline

  1. September 9, 1840
    Born in England
  2. June 17, 1864
    Act of valor — Petersburg, Virginia
    Age 23. Company K, 29th Massachusetts Infantry
  3. February 24, 1897
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. November 29, 1928
    Died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    Age 88.
  5. Resting place
    Fernwood Cemetery
    Fernwood, Pennsylvania

Biography

John H. Harbourne (September 9, 1840 - November 29, 1928) was an English born American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Harbourne received his country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor. Harbourne's medal was won for his actions during the Second Battle of Petersburg on June 17, 1864. He was honored with the award on February 24, 1897. Harbourne was born in England, and immigrated with his family to the US in 1850. He joined the Army from Readville, Massachusetts in May 1864, and was discharged due to disability only four months later.

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

Also honored for actions on June 17, 1864

JB John Brosnan Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 HC Henry Flint Chandler Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 William Donaldson Dickey Captain · Army Civil War · 1864 HM Henry Coddington Meyer Captain · Army Civil War · 1864 PM Patrick H. Monaghan Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 Francis Morrison Private · Army Civil War · 1864 George H. Plowman Sergeant Major · Army Civil War · 1864 Robert Alexander Reid Private · Army Civil War · 1864 HR Henry Walker Rowe Private · Army Civil War · 1864 BS Bernard A. Strausburgh First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 ✦ JW John H. Wageman Private · Army Civil War · 1864 BY Benjamin F. Young Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864

Same unit

WH William H. Howe Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 Joseph S. Manning Private · Army Civil War · 1863

More Civil War recipients from Massachusetts

JR Jeremiah Regan Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1862 HJ Henry T. Johns Private · Army Civil War · 1863 EL Edwin Leonard Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 Benjamin Frank Falls Color Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 ✦ JA John Gregory bishop Adams Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1862 John Michael Tobin First Lieutenant & Adjutant · Army Civil War · 1862
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.