Veteran in crisis? Dial 988 then press 1 · Text 838255 Next observance: Navy Birthday · October 13
Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Sergeant · U.S. Army

Robert A. Gray

Sergeant Robert A. Gray, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on May 16, 1864 in Drewry's Bluff, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War May 16, 1864

Sergeant Robert A. Gray was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 16, 1864 in Drewry's Bluff, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company C, 21st Connecticut Infantry. Gray was 29 years old.

One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on July 13, 1897, 33 years after the action.

Gray was born on September 21, 1834 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to Groton, New London County, Connecticut. Gray died on November 22, 1906 in Groton, Connecticut, at the age of 72. He is buried at Colonel Ledyard Cemetery in Groton, Connecticut.

Gray is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 57 credited to Connecticut.

★ Rescue & Lifesaving

Official Medal of Honor citation

While retreating with his regiment, which had been repulsed, he voluntarily returned, in the face of the enemy's fire, to a former position and rescued a wounded officer of his company who was unable to walk.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Philadelphia — map
  • Buried: Connecticut — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Connecticut →

Timeline

  1. September 21, 1834
    Born in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
  2. May 16, 1864
    Act of valor — Drewry's Bluff, Virginia
    Age 29. Company C, 21st Connecticut Infantry
  3. July 13, 1897
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. November 22, 1906
    Died in Groton, Connecticut
    Age 72.
  5. Resting place
    Colonel Ledyard Cemetery
    Groton, Connecticut

Biography

Robert A. Gray (September 21, 1834 - November 22, 1906) was a Union Army soldier in the American Civil War who received the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor. Gray was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on September 21, 1834, and entered service at Groton, Connecticut. He was awarded the Medal of Honor, for extraordinary heroism shown on May 16, 1864, while serving as a Sergeant with Company C, 21st Connecticut Infantry Regiment, at Drewry's Bluff, Virginia. His Medal of Honor was issued on July 13, 1897. He died at the age of 72, on November 22, 1906, and was buried at the Colonel Ledyard Cemetery in Groton, Connecticut.

From the Wikipedia article “Robert A. Gray”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on May 16, 1864

William Lord Musician · Army Civil War · 1864

More Civil War recipients from Connecticut

DS David H. Scofield Quartermaster Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 JM James T. Murphy Private · Army Civil War · 1865 CF Christopher Flynn Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 EB Elijah William Bacon Private · Army Civil War · 1863 ✦ William Garvin Captain of the Forecastle · Navy Civil War · 1864 Nicholas Fox 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.