Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, First Lieutenant & Adjutant Josiah O. Livingston received the Medal of Honor for his actions on February 2, 1864 in Newport Barracks, North Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 9th Vermont Infantry. Livingston was 26 years old.
2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on September 8, 1891, 27 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Captain.
Livingston was born on February 3, 1837 in Walden, Caledonia County, Vermont. His Medal of Honor is credited to Marshfield, Washington County, Vermont. Livingston died on July 23, 1917 in Bennington, Vermont, at the age of 80. He is buried at Robinson Cemetery in Calais, Vermont.
Livingston is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 47 credited to Vermont.
Official Medal of Honor citation
When, after desperate resistance, the small garrison had been driven back to the river by a vastly superior force, this officer, while a small force held back the enemy, personally fired the railroad bridge, and, although wounded himself, assisted a wounded officer over the burning structure.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and injuries
What the citation records about his wounds:
When, after desperate resistance, the small garrison had been driven back to the river by a vastly superior force, this officer, while a small force held back the enemy, personally fired the railroad bridge, and, although wounded himself, assisted a wounded officer over the burning structure.
- Age at death: 80
- Resting place: Robinson Cemetery
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
- Born: Walden — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Vermont →
Timeline
- February 3, 1837Born in Walden, Caledonia County, Vermont
- February 2, 1864Act of valor — Newport Barracks, North CarolinaAge 26. 9th Vermont Infantry
- September 8, 1891Medal of Honor presented
- July 23, 1917Died in Bennington, VermontAge 80.
- Resting placeRobinson CemeteryCalais, Vermont
Biography
Josiah O. Livingston (February 3, 1837 – July 23, 1917) was an officer in the Union Army and a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions in the American Civil War. Livingston joined the 9th Vermont Infantry as a first lieutenant in June 1862 and became regimental adjutant a year later. He was promoted to captain in November 1864. After the war, he was elected as a veteran companion of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States.
From the Wikipedia article “Josiah O. Livingston”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
