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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

Joseph McCauslin

Private Joseph McCauslin, 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 Joseph McCauslin, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on April 2, 1865 in Petersburg, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company D, 12th West Virginia Infantry. McCauslin was about 25 years old.

65 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on May 12, 1865.

McCauslin was born in 1840 in Ohio County, West Virginia. His Medal of Honor is credited to West Liberty, Ohio County, West Virginia. McCauslin died on July 6, 1906 in West Liberty, West Virginia, at the age of about 66. He is buried at West Alexander Cemetery in West Alexander, Pennsylvania.

McCauslin is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 45 credited to West Virginia.

★ Flags & Colors

Official Medal of Honor citation

Conspicuous gallantry as color bearer in the assault on Fort Gregg.

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

Timeline

  1. 1840
    Born in Ohio County, West Virginia
  2. April 2, 1865
    Act of valor — Petersburg, Virginia
    Age about 25. Company D, 12th West Virginia Infantry
  3. May 12, 1865
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. July 6, 1906
    Died in West Liberty, West Virginia
    Age about 66.
  5. Resting place
    West Alexander Cemetery
    West Alexander, Pennsylvania

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 West Virginia

HW Henry Cary Weir Captain & Assistant Adjutant General · Army Civil War · 1864 CS Charles Schorn Chief Bugler · Army Civil War · 1865 JS John Shanes Private · Army Civil War · 1864 JA James F. Adams Private · Army Civil War · 1864 James Madison Burns Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 JE John N. Eckes Private · Army Civil War · 1863
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.