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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Colonel · U.S. Army

Philip Sidney Post

Colonel Philip Sidney Post, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions between December 15 and 16, 1864 in Nashville, Tennessee during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War December 15 - 16, 1864

Colonel Philip Sidney Post was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions between December 15 and 16, 1864 in Nashville, Tennessee during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 59th Illinois Infantry. Post was 31 years old.

One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on March 18, 1893, 28 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Brevet Brigadier General.

Post was born on March 19, 1833 in Florida, Orange County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to Galesburg, Knox County, Illinois. Post died on January 5, 1895 in Washington, District of Columbia, at the age of 61. He is buried at Hope Cemetery in Galesburg, Illinois.

Post is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 210 credited to Illinois.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Led his brigade in an attack upon a strong position under a terrific fire of grape, canister, and musketry; was struck down by a grapeshot after he had reached the enemy's works.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Life beyond the battlefield

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: Florida — map
  • Died: Galesburg — map
  • Buried: Hope Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Illinois →

Timeline

  1. March 19, 1833
    Born in Florida, Orange County, New York
  2. December 15 - 16, 1864
    Act of valor — Nashville, Tennessee
    Age 31. 59th Illinois Infantry
  3. March 18, 1893
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. January 5, 1895
    Died in Washington, District of Columbia
    Age 61.
  5. Resting place
    Hope Cemetery
    Galesburg, Illinois

Biography

Philip Sidney Post (March 19, 1833 – January 6, 1895) was an American diplomat, politician, and decorated Army officer. He served as a United States representative from Illinois for eight years, from 1887 to 1895. During the American Civil War, he was a Union Army officer and many years later, Post received the Medal of Honor on March 8, 1893, for his actions at the Battle of Nashville.

From the Wikipedia article “Philip S. Post”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on December 15 - 16, 1864

SC Samuel Joseph Churchill Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864

More Civil War recipients from Illinois

WT William Toomer Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 PH Patrick Highland Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 Menomen O'Donnell First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864 Leverett Mansfield Kelley Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 JC John Creed Private · Army Civil War · 1864 JH James Henry Sergeant · 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.