Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, First Lieutenant John Moulder Wilson received the Medal of Honor for his actions on August 6, 1862 at Malvern Hill, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S. Engineers. Wilson was 24 years old.
The medal was presented on July 3, 1897, 34 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Brigadier General.
Wilson was born on October 8, 1837 in Washington, District of Columbia. His Medal of Honor is credited to Olympia, Thurston County, Washington. Wilson died on February 1, 1919, at the age of 81. He is buried at U.S. Military Academy Cemetery in West Point, New York.
Wilson is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 40 credited to Washington.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Remained on duty, while suffering from an acute illness and very weak, and participated in the action of that date. A few days previous he had been transferred to a staff corps, but preferred to remain until the close of the campaign, taking part in several actions.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Life beyond the battlefield
- Occupations: military engineer
- Education: United States Military Academy
Source: Wikidata.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Washington →
Timeline
- October 8, 1837Born in Washington, District of Columbia
- August 6, 1862Act of valor — Malvern Hill, VirginiaAge 24. U.S. Engineers
- July 3, 1897Medal of Honor presented
- February 1, 1919DiedAge 81.
- Resting placeU.S. Military Academy CemeteryWest Point, New York
Biography
John Moulder Wilson (October 8, 1837 – February 1, 1919) was a Union Army officer and later served as Chief of Engineers as well as serving as Superintendent of the United States Military Academy from 1889 to 1893. He was a recipient of the Medal of Honor for bravery in combat during the American Civil War.
From the Wikipedia article “John Moulder Wilson”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
