Lieutenant Colonel Loyd Wheaton was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 9, 1865 at Fort Blakely, Alabama during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 8th Illinois Infantry. Wheaton was 26 years old.
18 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on January 16, 1894, 28 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Major General.
Wheaton was born on July 15, 1838 in Penfield, Calhoun County, Michigan. His Medal of Honor is credited to Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois. Wheaton died on September 17, 1918 in Rockford, Illinois, at the age of 80. He is buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Rockford, Illinois.
Wheaton is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 210 credited to Illinois.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Led the right wing of his regiment, and, springing through an embrasure, was the first to enter the enemy's works, against a strong fire of artillery and infantry.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Illinois →
Timeline
- July 15, 1838Born in Penfield, Calhoun County, Michigan
- April 9, 1865Act of valor — Fort Blakely, AlabamaAge 26. 8th Illinois Infantry
- January 16, 1894Medal of Honor presented
- September 17, 1918Died in Rockford, IllinoisAge 80.
- Resting placeGreenwood CemeteryRockford, Illinois
Biography
Loyd Wheaton (July 15, 1838 – September 17, 1918) was a United States general who fought in the Philippine–American War and in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
From the Wikipedia article “Loyd Wheaton”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
