Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Sergeant John Morehead Scott was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions in April 1862 in Georgia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 21st Ohio Infantry. Scott was about 23 years old.
The medal was presented on August 4, 1866, 4 years after the action.
Scott was born on January 1, 1839 in Stark County, Ohio. His Medal of Honor is credited to Findley, Hancock County, Ohio. Scott died on June 18, 1862, at the age of 23. He is buried at Chattanooga National Cemetery in Chattanooga, Tennessee. His medal is held by Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History, Kennesaw, GA.
Scott is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 256 credited to Ohio.
Official Medal of Honor citation
One of 19 of 24 men (including two civilians) who, by direction of Gen. Ormsby M. Mitchell, penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory and captured a railroad train at Big Shanty, Ga., in an attempt to destroy the bridges and track between Chattanooga and Atlanta.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Timeline
- January 1, 1839Born in Stark County, Ohio
- April 1862Act of valor — GeorgiaAge about 23. 21st Ohio Infantry
- June 18, 1862DiedAge 23.
- August 4, 1866Medal of Honor presented posthumously
- Resting placeChattanooga National CemeteryChattanooga, Tennessee
Biography
John Morehead Scott (1 January 1839 – 18 June 1862) was a sergeant in the United States Army who was awarded the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the American Civil War. Scott was awarded the medal posthumously on 27 April 1865 for actions performed during the Great Locomotive Chase on 12 April 1862.
From the Wikipedia article “John Morehead Scott”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
Further reading
- The Great Locomotive Chase: The First Awarded Medals of Honorcmohs.org · 2022
