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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

First Lieutenant & Adjutant · U.S. Army

Nathan Huntley Edgerton

First Lieutenant & Adjutant Nathan Huntley Edgerton, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on September 29, 1864 at Chapin's Farm, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War September 29, 1864

First Lieutenant & Adjutant Nathan Huntley Edgerton, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on September 29, 1864 at Chapin's Farm, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 6th U.S. Colored Infantry. Edgerton was 26 years old.

37 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. He later rose to the rank of Captain.

Edgerton was born on August 25, 1838 in Barnesville, Belmont County, Ohio. His Medal of Honor is credited to Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Edgerton died on October 27, 1932 in Agness, Oregon, at the age of 94. He is buried at At his mountain homestead in Agnes, Oregon.

Edgerton is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.

★ Flags & Colors

Official Medal of Honor citation

Took up the flag after three color bearers had been shot down and bore it forward, though himself wounded

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

Wounds and injuries

What the citation records about his wounds:

Took up the flag after three color bearers had been shot down and bore it forward, though himself wounded
  • Age at death: 94
  • Resting place: At his mountain homestead

Timeline

  1. August 25, 1838
    Born in Barnesville, Belmont County, Ohio
  2. September 29, 1864
    Act of valor — Chapin's Farm, Virginia
    Age 26. 6th U.S. Colored Infantry
  3. October 27, 1932
    Died in Agness, Oregon
    Age 94.
  4. Resting place
    At his mountain homestead
    Agnes, Oregon

Also honored for actions on September 29, 1864

LA Lester Archer Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 ✦ WB William Henry Barnes Private · Army Civil War · 1864 Powhatan Beaty First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 TB Thomas Belcher Private · Army Civil War · 1864 CB Charles Blucher Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 JB James Brady Private · Army Civil War · 1864 JB James H. Bronson First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 GB George A. Buchanan Private · Army Civil War · 1864 ✦ FB Frederick Clarence Buck Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 CC Cecil Clay Captain · Army Civil War · 1864 AF Augustin D. Flanagan Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 Christian A. Fleetwood Sergeant Major · Army Civil War · 1864

See all 38 recipients for September 29, 1864 →

More Civil War recipients from Pennsylvania

AH Amzi Davis Harmon Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 John Henry Lawson Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1864 WD William Doolen Coal Heaver · Navy Civil War · 1864 George W. Mears Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 JR John Rannahan Corporal · Marine Corps Civil War · 1865 TS Thaddeus S. Smith Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.