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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

John Henry Weeks

Private John Henry Weeks, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on May 12, 1864 in Spotsylvania, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War May 12, 1864

Private John Henry Weeks was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 12, 1864 in Spotsylvania, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company H, 152d New York Infantry. Weeks was 19 years old.

34 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on December 6, 1864 — by Major General George G. Meade, at a review of the 2nd Army Corps Headquarters, Peebles' House, near Petersburg, Va.

Weeks was born on March 15, 1845 in Hampton, Windham County, Connecticut. His Medal of Honor is credited to Hartwick Seminary, Otsego County, New York. Weeks died on March 10, 1911, at the age of 65. He is buried at Hartwick Seminary Cemetery in Hartwick Seminary, New York.

Weeks is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 678 credited to New York.

★ Flags & Colors

Official Medal of Honor citation

Capture of flag and color bearer using an empty cocked rifle while outnumbered by five or six.

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

Places

  • Buried: Hartwick Seminary Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. March 15, 1845
    Born in Hampton, Windham County, Connecticut
  2. May 12, 1864
    Act of valor — Spotsylvania, Virginia
    Age 19. Company H, 152d New York Infantry
  3. December 6, 1864
    Medal of Honor presented
    By Major General George G. Meade, at a review of the 2nd Army Corps Headquarters, Peebles' House, near Petersburg, Va.
  4. March 10, 1911
    Died
    Age 65.
  5. Resting place
    Hartwick Seminary Cemetery
    Hartwick Seminary, New York

Biography

John H. Weeks (March 15, 1845 – March 10, 1911) was an American soldier during the American Civil War who was awarded the Medal of Honor. The medal was awarded on 1 December, 1864 for his actions as a private in the 152nd New York Infantry at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, Virginia on 12 May, 1864. He was born in Hampton, Connecticut and is now interred in Hartwick Seminary Cemetery, New York.

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

Further reading

Also honored for actions on May 12, 1864

FA Frederick Alber Private · Army Civil War · 1864 RA Robert Wesley Ammerman Private · Army Civil War · 1864 NB Nathaniel C. Barker Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 John P. Beech Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 FB Francis A. Bishop Private · Army Civil War · 1864 EB E. Michael Burk Private · Army Civil War · 1864 DC Dayton P. Clarke Captain · Army Civil War · 1864 CC Charles H. Clausen First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864 CF Charles S. Fall Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 Charles H. Fasnacht Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 Archibald Freeman Private · Army Civil War · 1864 GH George W. Harris Private · Army Civil War · 1864

See all 35 recipients for May 12, 1864 →

More Civil War recipients from New York

CB Charles Bradley Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1863 Stephen Edwin Chandler Quartermaster Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 PG Patrick J. Ginley Private · Army Civil War · 1864 CB Christopher C. Bruton Captain · Army Civil War · 1865 MR Myron H. Ranney Private · Army Civil War · 1862 Bernard Harley Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864
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.