Private Martin Wambsgan was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on October 19, 1864 at Cedar Creek, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company D, 90th New York Infantry. Wambsgan was 25 years old.
18 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on November 3, 1896, 32 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Sergeant.
Wambsgan was born on August 19, 1839 in Nusdorof, Bavaria, Germany — one of 130 recipients born in Germany. His Medal of Honor is credited to Clyde, Wayne County, New York. Wambsgan died on May 3, 1911 in Baldwinsville, New York, at the age of 71. He is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Syracuse, New York. His medal is held by Onondaga Historical Association, Syracuse, NY.
Wambsgan 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
While the enemy were in close proximity, this soldier sprang forward and bore off in safety the regimental colors, the color bearer having fallen on the field of battle.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
Timeline
- August 19, 1839Born in Nusdorof, Bavaria, Germany
- October 19, 1864Act of valor — Cedar Creek, VirginiaAge 25. Company D, 90th New York Infantry
- November 3, 1896Medal of Honor presented
- May 3, 1911Died in Baldwinsville, New YorkAge 71.
- Resting placeWoodlawn CemeterySyracuse, New York
Biography
Martin Wambsgan (August 19, 1839 – January 17, 1911) was a German born Union Army soldier during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the Battle of Cedar Creek fought near Middletown, Virginia on October 19, 1864. The battle was the decisive engagement of Major General Philip Sheridan's Valley Campaigns of 1864 and was the largest battle fought in the Shenandoah Valley. Wambsgan enlisted in the Union Army at Clyde, New York in October 1861. He re-enlisted in February 1864, and mustered out with his regiment in early 1866. He was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery (Syracuse, NY), Section 21, Plot 97.
From the Wikipedia article “Martin Wambsgan”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
