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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

John Lilley

Private John Lilley, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on April 2, 1865 in Petersburg, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War April 2, 1865

Private John Lilley was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 2, 1865 in Petersburg, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company F, 205th Pennsylvania Infantry. Lilley was about 39 years old.

65 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on May 20, 1865.

Lilley was born in February 1826 in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to Lewistown, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. Lilley died on May 12, 1902 in Lewistown, Pennsylvania, at the age of about 76. He is buried at First Methodist Cemetery in Lewistown, Pennsylvania.

Lilley is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.

★ Flags & Colors

Official Medal of Honor citation

After his regiment had began to waiver, he rushed on alone to capture the enemy flag. He reached the works and the Confederate color bearer who, at bayonet point, he caused to surrender with several enemy soldiers. He kept his prisoners in tow when they realized he was alone as his regiment in the meantime withdrawn further to the rear.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Mifflin County — map
  • Buried: Pennsylvania — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →

Timeline

  1. February 1826
    Born in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania
  2. April 2, 1865
    Act of valor — Petersburg, Virginia
    Age about 39. Company F, 205th Pennsylvania Infantry
  3. May 20, 1865
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. May 12, 1902
    Died in Lewistown, Pennsylvania
    Age about 76.
  5. Resting place
    First Methodist Cemetery
    Lewistown, Pennsylvania

Biography

John Lilley (1826 – May 12, 1902) was a United States soldier who was recognized with his nation's highest award for valor, the U.S. Medal of Honor, for his gallantry during the American Civil War. While fighting with Company F of the 205th Pennsylvania Infantry as part of the Union Army engaged in the Third Battle of Petersburg, Virginia on April 2, 1865, he captured the flag of the Confederate States Army by single-handedly rushing, and forcing the surrender of, that army's color-bearer, along with several additional CSA soldiers.

From the Wikipedia article “John Lilley (soldier)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on April 2, 1865

AA Abner Peeler Allen Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 AA Andrew O. Apple Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 William J. Babcock Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 JB James Albert Barber Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 EB Eugene Beauharnais Beaumont Major and Assistant Adjutant General · Army Civil War · 1865 William Robert douglas Blackwood Surgeon · Army Civil War · 1865 JB John W. Boutwell Private · Army Civil War · 1865 JB John E. Buffington Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 CC Carlton N. Camp Private · Army Civil War · 1865 JC John Corcoran Private · Army Civil War · 1865 Stephen Potter Corliss First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 JC Josiah M. Curtis Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865

See all 66 recipients for April 2, 1865 →

More Civil War recipients from Pennsylvania

JR John Rannahan Corporal · Marine Corps Civil War · 1865 JS John Hamilton reid Storey Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 JC John E. Clopp Private · Army Civil War · 1863 WF West Funk Major · Army Civil War · 1865 JF Jacob G. Frick Colonel · Army Civil War · 1863 Martin E. Scheibner Private · Army Civil War · 1863
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.