Sergeant John S. Durham, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on October 8, 1862 in Perryville, Kentucky during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company F, 1st Wisconsin Infantry. Durham was 19 years old.
One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on November 20, 1896, 34 years after the action.
Durham was born on June 8, 1843 in New York, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to Malone, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin. Durham died on January 2, 1918 in Leavenworth, Kansas, at the age of 74. He is buried at Leavenworth National Cemetery in Leavenworth, Kansas.
Durham is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 50 credited to Wisconsin.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Seized the flag of his regiment when the color sergeant was shot and advanced with the flag midway between the lines, amid a shower of shot, shell, and bullets, until stopped by his commanding officer.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: Battle of Perryville, American Civil War.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Wisconsin →
Timeline
- June 8, 1843Born in New York, New York
- October 8, 1862Act of valor — Perryville, KentuckyAge 19. Company F, 1st Wisconsin Infantry
- November 20, 1896Medal of Honor presented
- January 2, 1918Died in Leavenworth, KansasAge 74.
- Resting placeLeavenworth National CemeteryLeavenworth, Kansas
Biography
John Stafford Durham (a.k.a. Mark Cromwell, June 8, 1843 – January 12, 1918) served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Perryville.
From the Wikipedia article “John Durham (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
