Sergeant Nathaniel C. Barker was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 12, 1864 in Spotsylvania, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company E, 11th New Hampshire Infantry. Barker was 27 years old.
34 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on September 23, 1897, 33 years after the action.
Barker was born on September 28, 1836 in Piermont, Grafton County, New Hampshire. His Medal of Honor is credited to Manchester, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire. Barker died on March 7, 1904 in Somerville, Massachusetts, at the age of 67. He is buried at Last Rest Cemetery in Merrimack, New Hampshire.
Barker is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 35 credited to New Hampshire.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Six color bearers of the regiment having been killed, he voluntarily took both flags of the regiment and carried them through the remainder of the battle.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New Hampshire →
Timeline
- September 28, 1836Born in Piermont, Grafton County, New Hampshire
- May 12, 1864Act of valor — Spotsylvania, VirginiaAge 27. Company E, 11th New Hampshire Infantry
- September 23, 1897Medal of Honor presented
- March 7, 1904Died in Somerville, MassachusettsAge 67.
- Resting placeLast Rest CemeteryMerrimack, New Hampshire
Biography
Sergeant Nathaniel C. Barker (September 28, 1836 – March 7, 1904) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Barker was awarded the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, during the Battle of Spotsylvania on May 12, 1864. He was presented with the award on 23 September 1897.
From the Wikipedia article “Nathaniel C. Barker”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
