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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Second Lieutenant · U.S. Army

Peter Martin Boehm

Second Lieutenant Peter Martin Boehm, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on March 31, 1865 in Dinwiddie Courthouse, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War March 31, 1865

Second Lieutenant Peter Martin Boehm was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on March 31, 1865 in Dinwiddie Courthouse, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company K, 15th New York Cavalry. Boehm was 20 years old.

5 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on December 15, 1898, 33 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Major.

Boehm was born on February 10, 1845 in Albany, Albany County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to Brooklyn, Kings County, New York. Boehm died on June 14, 1914 in Chicago, Illinois, at the age of 69. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. His medal is held by Indiana Military Museum (1863 & 1896 designs), Vincennes, IN.

Boehm is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 678 credited to New York.

★ Flags & Colors

Official Medal of Honor citation

While acting as aide to Gen. Custer, took a gun from the hands of color bearer, rode in front of a line that was being driven back and, under a heavy fire, rallied the men, re-formed the line, and repulsed the charge.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: Battle of Dinwiddie Court House.

Places

  • Born: New York — map
  • Buried: Arlington National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. February 10, 1845
    Born in Albany, Albany County, New York
  2. March 31, 1865
    Act of valor — Dinwiddie Courthouse, Virginia
    Age 20. Company K, 15th New York Cavalry
  3. December 15, 1898
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. June 14, 1914
    Died in Chicago, Illinois
    Age 69.
  5. Resting place
    Arlington National Cemetery
    Arlington, Virginia

Biography

Peter Martin Boehm (February 10, 1845 – June 14, 1914) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Boehm received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action during the Battle of Dinwiddie Court House in Virginia on 31 March 1865. He was honored with the award on 15 December 1898.

From the Wikipedia article “Peter M. Boehm”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on March 31, 1865

WH William B. Hooper Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 Horatio Collins King Major & Quartermaster · Army Civil War · 1865 FL Franklin W. Lutes Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 William H. Sickles Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 JW John Wilson Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865

More Civil War recipients from New York

JD John C. Donnelly Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864 CB Christopher C. Bruton Captain · Army Civil War · 1865 JJ John E. Jones Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1864 Henry Alanson Barnum Colonel · Army Civil War · 1863 LP Loron F. Packard Private · Army Civil War · 1863 GG George M. Grueb Private · Army Civil War · 1864
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.