Sergeant John Kiggins was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on November 24, 1863 at Lookout Mountain, Tennessee during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company D, 149th New York Infantry. Kiggins was 26 years old.
2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on January 12, 1892, 28 years after the action.
Kiggins was born on February 2, 1837 in Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York. Kiggins died on September 29, 1914 in Bath, New York, at the age of 77. He is buried at Bath National Cemetery in Bath, New York. His medal is held by Onondaga Historical Association (1863 & 1904 designs), Syracuse, NY.
Kiggins 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
Waved the colors to save the lives of the men who were being fired upon by their own batteries, and thereby drew upon himself a concentrated fire from the enemy.
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 2, 1837Born in Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York
- November 24, 1863Act of valor — Lookout Mountain, TennesseeAge 26. Company D, 149th New York Infantry
- January 12, 1892Medal of Honor presented
- September 29, 1914Died in Bath, New YorkAge 77.
- Resting placeBath National CemeteryBath, New York
Biography
John Kiggins (February 2, 1837 – September 29, 1914) was a Union Army soldier in the American Civil War who received the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions at the Battle of Lookout Mountain. He served as a sergeant and flag bearer with Company D of the 149th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment.
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