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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

First Lieutenant · U.S. Army

John James Toffey

First Lieutenant John James Toffey, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on November 23, 1863 in Chattanooga, Tennessee during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War November 23, 1863

First Lieutenant John James Toffey, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on November 23, 1863 in Chattanooga, Tennessee during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company G, 33d New Jersey Infantry. Toffey was 19 years old.

2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on September 10, 1897, 33 years after the action.

Toffey was born on June 1, 1844 in Quaker Hill, Dutchess County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to Hudson, Hudson County, New Jersey. Toffey died on March 13, 1911, at the age of 66. He is buried at Pawling Cemetery in Pauling, New York.

Toffey is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 93 credited to New Jersey.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Although excused from duty on account of sickness, went to the front in command of a storming party and with conspicuous gallantry participated in the assault of Missionary Ridge; was here wounded and permanently disabled.

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

Battles and campaigns

1863 · Civil War

Battle of Missionary Ridge

Result: Union victory

7 Medal of Honor recipients

Also served in: American Civil War.

Life beyond the battlefield

  • Offices held: Treasurer of the State of New Jersey

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: Pawling — map
  • Died: Jersey City — map
  • Buried: Pawling Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New Jersey →

Timeline

  1. June 1, 1844
    Born in Quaker Hill, Dutchess County, New York
  2. November 23, 1863
    Act of valor — Chattanooga, Tennessee
    Age 19. Company G, 33d New Jersey Infantry
  3. September 10, 1897
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. March 13, 1911
    Died
    Age 66.
  5. Resting place
    Pawling Cemetery
    Pauling, New York

Biography

John James Toffey (June 1, 1844 – March 13, 1911) was a United States Union Army officer during the American Civil War who received the Medal of Honor.

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

Further reading

Also honored for actions on November 23, 1863

Henry Alanson Barnum Colonel · Army Civil War · 1863 RS Richard Henry Seward Paymaster's Steward · Navy Civil War · 1863

More Civil War recipients from New Jersey

EE Edmund English First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 James Madison Drake Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864 WP William Porter Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 CW Charles H. Weeks Captain of the Foretop · Navy Civil War · 1864 DW Daniel Whitfield Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1864 JD John Davis Quarter Gunner · Navy 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.