First Lieutenant John Henry Patterson was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 5, 1864 at Wilderness Campaign, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 11th U.S. Infantry. Patterson was 21 years old.
13 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on July 23, 1897, 33 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Brigadier General Ret..
Patterson was born on February 10, 1843 in New York. Patterson died on October 5, 1920 in Selkirk, New York, at the age of 77. He is buried at Albany Rural Cemetery in Albany, New York. His medal is held by Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park, Fredericksburg, VA.
Patterson is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 678 credited to New York.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Under the heavy fire of the advancing enemy, picked up and carried several hundred yards to a place of safety a wounded officer of his regiment who was helpless and would otherwise have been burned in the forest.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
Timeline
- February 10, 1843Born in New York
- May 5, 1864Act of valor — Wilderness Campaign, VirginiaAge 21. 11th U.S. Infantry
- July 23, 1897Medal of Honor presented
- October 5, 1920Died in Selkirk, New YorkAge 77.
- Resting placeAlbany Rural CemeteryAlbany, New York
Biography
John Henry Patterson (February 10, 1843 – October 5, 1920) was a Union officer during the American Civil War and a recipient of the Medal of Honor for courage under fire at the Battle of the Wilderness.
From the Wikipedia article “John Henry Patterson (American soldier)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
