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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

Julius Dexter Rhodes

Private Julius Dexter Rhodes, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions between August 28 and 30, 1862 at Thoroughfare Gap & Bull Run, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War August 28 - 30, 1862

Private Julius Dexter Rhodes, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry between August 28 and 30, 1862 at Thoroughfare Gap & Bull Run, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company F, 5th New York Cavalry. Rhodes was 20 years old.

The medal was presented on March 9, 1887, 24 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Sergeant Major.

Rhodes was born on October 1, 1841 in Monroe County, Michigan. His Medal of Honor is credited to Springville, Erie County, New York. Rhodes died on February 19, 1906 in Washington, District of Columbia, at the age of 64. He is buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Pleasantville, New Jersey. His medal is held by American Numismatic Society, New York, NY.

Rhodes is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 678 credited to New York.

Official Medal of Honor citation

After having had his horse shot under him in the fight at Thoroughfare Gap, Va., he voluntarily joined the 105th New York Volunteers and was conspicuous in the advance on the enemy's lines. Displayed gallantry in the advance on the skirmish line at Bull Run, Va., where he was wounded.

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

Wounds and injuries

What the citation records about his wounds:

Displayed gallantry in the advance on the skirmish line at Bull Run, Va., where he was wounded.

Timeline

  1. October 1, 1841
    Born in Monroe County, Michigan
  2. August 28 - 30, 1862
    Act of valor — Thoroughfare Gap & Bull Run, Virginia
    Age 20. Company F, 5th New York Cavalry
  3. March 9, 1887
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. February 19, 1906
    Died in Washington, District of Columbia
    Age 64.
  5. Resting place
    Greenwood Cemetery
    Pleasantville, New Jersey

Biography

Julius Dexter Rhodes (1 October 1841 – 19 February 1906) was a sergeant major in the United States Army who was awarded the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the American Civil War. After having his horse shot from under him at the Battle of Throughfare Gap, he helped the 105th New York Volunteers advance on the enemy line. He was later wounded while fighting in the Second Battle of Bull Run. He was awarded the Medal of Honor on 9 March 1887.

From the Wikipedia article “Julius D. Rhodes”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

More Civil War recipients from New York

FM Frank Miller Private · Army Civil War · 1865 William Laing Heermance Captain · Army Civil War · 1863 GT George Taylor Armorer · Navy Civil War · 1864 CM Charles Joseph Murphy First Lieutenant & Quartermaster · Army Civil War · 1861 JS Joseph E. Sova Saddler · Army Civil War · 1865 JM John McGowan Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1862
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.