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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Second Lieutenant · U.S. Army

Orville Tyron Chamberlain

Second Lieutenant Orville Tyron Chamberlain, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on September 20, 1863 in Chickamauga, Georgia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War September 20, 1863

Second Lieutenant Orville Tyron Chamberlain, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on September 20, 1863 in Chickamauga, Georgia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company G, 74th Indiana Infantry. Chamberlain was 22 years old.

4 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on March 11, 1896, 32 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Captain.

Chamberlain was born on September 1, 1841 in Leesburgh, Kosciusko County, Indiana. His Medal of Honor is credited to Elkhart, Elkhart County, Indiana. Chamberlain died on May 27, 1929 in Prescott, Arizona, at the age of 87. He is buried at Gracelawn Cemetery in Elkhart, Indiana. His medal is held by Chickamauga National Military Park Vistors Center, Chickamauga, GA ; Indiana State Historical Society, Indianapolis, IN.

Chamberlain is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 75 credited to Indiana.

Official Medal of Honor citation

While exposed to a galling fire, Chamberlain went in search of another regiment, found its location, procured ammunition from the men thereof, and returned with the ammunition to his own company.

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

Battles and campaigns

1863 · Civil War

Battle of Chickamauga

Result: Confederate victory

2 Medal of Honor recipients

Places

  • Died: Prescott — map
  • Buried: Grace Lawn Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Indiana →

Timeline

  1. September 1, 1841
    Born in Leesburgh, Kosciusko County, Indiana
  2. September 20, 1863
    Act of valor — Chickamauga, Georgia
    Age 22. Company G, 74th Indiana Infantry
  3. March 11, 1896
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. May 27, 1929
    Died in Prescott, Arizona
    Age 87.
  5. Resting place
    Gracelawn Cemetery
    Elkhart, Indiana

Biography

Orville Tyron Chamberlain (September 1, 1841, to May 27, 1929) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Chamberlain received the United States' highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action during the Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia, on 20 September 1863. He was honored with the award on 11 March 1896.

From the Wikipedia article “Orville T. Chamberlain”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on September 20, 1863

CC Clinton Albert Cilley Captain · Army Civil War · 1863 Horace Porter Captain · Army Civil War · 1863 Anthony Taylor First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1863 William G. Whitney Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863

More Civil War recipients from Indiana

OR Oliver P. Rood Private · Army Civil War · 1863 MR Milton F. Russell Captain · Army Civil War · 1862 JW John Milton Whitehead Chaplain · Army Civil War · 1862 JP Joseph Rollin Prentice Private · Army Civil War · 1862 WS William Steinmetz Private · Army Civil War · 1863 DH David H. Helms Private · Army Civil War · 1863
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.