Private Loron F. Packard was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on November 27, 1863 at Raccoon Ford, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company E, 5th New York Cavalry.
2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on August 20, 1894, 30 years after the action.
Packard was born in Cattaraugus County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to Cuba, Allegany County, New York. Packard died on July 16, 1903. He is buried at Cuba Cemetery in Cuba, New York.
Packard 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 his command had retreated, this soldier, voluntarily and alone, returned to the assistance of a comrade and rescued him from the hands of three armed Confederates
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Timeline
- Date unknownBorn in Cattaraugus County, New York
- November 27, 1863Act of valor — Raccoon Ford, VirginiaCompany E, 5th New York Cavalry
- August 20, 1894Medal of Honor presented
- July 16, 1903Died
- Resting placeCuba CemeteryCuba, New York
Biography
Loron Franklin Packard (August 23, 1843 – July 16, 1903) was a Union Army soldier during the American Civil War. At 18-years-old, Packard enlisted in the 5th New York Cavalry Regiment on August 29, 1861, at Haskell Flats, New York as a Private and was sworn into federal service on August 31. He was assigned to Company E. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry during a reconnaissance at Racoon Ford, Virginia on November 27, 1863 during the Mine Run Campaign. After a skirmish, he returned to successfully rescue a comrade who had been taken prisoner by the Confederates. He was eventually promoted to Saddler-Sergeant and mustered out on July 19, 1865, at Winchester, Virginia.
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