Veteran in crisis? Dial 988 then press 1 · Text 838255 Next observance: Navy Birthday · October 13
Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Assistant Surgeon · U.S. Army

Joseph Kirby Corson

Assistant Surgeon Joseph Kirby Corson, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on October 14, 1863 near Bristoe Station, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War October 14, 1863

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Assistant Surgeon Joseph Kirby Corson received the Medal of Honor for his actions on October 14, 1863 near Bristoe Station, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 6th Pennsylvania Reserves (35th Pennsylvania Volunteers). Corson was 26 years old.

4 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on May 13, 1899, 35 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Major USA Ret..

Corson was born on November 26, 1836 in Plymouth Meeting, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Corson died on July 24, 1913 in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, at the age of 76. He is buried at West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Bala-Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.

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

★ Medics & Corpsmen

Official Medal of Honor citation

With one companion returned in the face of the enemy's heavy artillery fire and removed to a place of safety a severely wounded soldier who had been left behind as the regiment fell back.

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

Battles and campaigns

1863 · Civil War

Battle of Bristoe Station

Result: Union victory

2 Medal of Honor recipients

Places

  • Born: Plymouth Meeting — map
  • Died: Pennsylvania — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →

Timeline

  1. November 26, 1836
    Born in Plymouth Meeting, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
  2. October 14, 1863
    Act of valor — near Bristoe Station, Virginia
    Age 26. 6th Pennsylvania Reserves (35th Pennsylvania Volunteers)
  3. May 13, 1899
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. July 24, 1913
    Died in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania
    Age 76.
  5. Resting place
    West Laurel Hill Cemetery
    Bala-Cynwyd, Pennsylvania

Biography

Joseph Kirby Corson (22 November 1836 – 24 July 1913) was an American military officer who served in the Union army as an assistant surgeon during the American Civil War. He received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the Battle of Bristoe Station on 14 October 1863. He was honored with the award on 13 May 1899.

From the Wikipedia article “Joseph K. Corson”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on October 14, 1863

TC Thomas Cullen Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 MH Moses C. Hanscom Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 LS Louis Jeanottelle Sacriste First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1863 Michael Emmet Urell Private · Army Civil War · 1863

More Civil War recipients from Pennsylvania

JL John Lafferty Fireman · Navy Civil War · 1864 HB Henry G. Bonebrake First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 Guy Vernor Henry Colonel · Army Civil War · 1864 CS Charles Shambaugh Corporal · Army Civil War · 1862 WJ William Jones Captain of the Top · Navy Civil War · 1864 Joseph Fisher Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865
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.