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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

Peter T. Anderson

Private Peter T. Anderson, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on March 19, 1865 in Bentonville, North Carolina during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War March 19, 1865

Private Peter T. Anderson was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on March 19, 1865 in Bentonville, North Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company B, 31st Wisconsin Infantry. Anderson was 17 years old.

3 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on June 16, 1865. He later rose to the rank of Brevet Captain.

Anderson was born on September 4, 1847 in Darlington, Lafayette County, Wisconsin. His Medal of Honor is credited to Wiota, Lafayette County, Wisconsin. Anderson died on July 26, 1907 in Storm Lake, Iowa, at the age of 59. He is buried at Newell Cemetery in Newell, Iowa.

Anderson is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 50 credited to Wisconsin.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Entirely unassisted, brought from the field an abandoned piece of artillery and saved the gun from falling into the hands of the enemy.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Darlington — map
  • Died: Newell — map
  • Buried: Newell Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Wisconsin →

Timeline

  1. September 4, 1847
    Born in Darlington, Lafayette County, Wisconsin
  2. March 19, 1865
    Act of valor — Bentonville, North Carolina
    Age 17. Company B, 31st Wisconsin Infantry
  3. June 16, 1865
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. July 26, 1907
    Died in Storm Lake, Iowa
    Age 59.
  5. Resting place
    Newell Cemetery
    Newell, Iowa

Biography

Peter T. Anderson (July 4, 1847 – July 25, 1907) served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Bentonville. Anderson was born July 4, 1847, in Lafayette County, Wisconsin. He enlisted in the 31st Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry in September 1863 and was mustered out in July 1865. He received a brevet promotion to captain two years later. He died July 25, 1907, and was buried in Newell Cemetery, Newell, Iowa.

From the Wikipedia article “Peter Anderson (soldier)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Further reading

Also honored for actions on March 19, 1865

GC George Washington Clute Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 Allan Houston Dougall First Lieutenant & Adjutant · Army Civil War · 1865 HP Henry E. Plant Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865

More Civil War recipients from Wisconsin

James Burton Pond First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1863 Albert O'Connor Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 Arthur MacArthur Jr. First Lieutenant & Adjutant · Army Civil War · 1863 JC James E. Croft Private · Army Civil War · 1864 FW Francis A. Waller Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 William H. Sickles Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865
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.