Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Second Lieutenant Josiah M. Curtis received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 2, 1865 in Petersburg, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company I, 12th West Virginia Infantry. Curtis was 20 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. He later rose to the rank of First Lieutenant.
Curtis was born on November 16, 1844 in Ohio County, West Virginia. His Medal of Honor is credited to West Liberty, Ohio County, West Virginia. Curtis died on June 17, 1875 in West Liberty, West Virginia, at the age of 30. He is buried at West Liberty Cemetery in West Liberty, West Virginia.
Curtis is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 45 credited to West Virginia.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Seized the colors of his regiment after two color bearers had fallen, bore them gallantly, and was among the first to gain a foothold, with his flag, inside the enemy's works.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in West Virginia →
Timeline
- November 16, 1844Born in Ohio County, West Virginia
- April 2, 1865Act of valor — Petersburg, VirginiaAge 20. Company I, 12th West Virginia Infantry
- May 12, 1865Medal of Honor presented
- June 17, 1875Died in West Liberty, West VirginiaAge 30.
- Resting placeWest Liberty CemeteryWest Liberty, West Virginia
Biography
Second Lieutenant Josiah M. Curtis (16 November 1844 to 17 June 1875) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Curtis received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action during the Third Battle of Petersburg in Virginia on 2 April 1865. He was honored with the award on 12 May 1865.
From the Wikipedia article “Josiah M. Curtis”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
