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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Corporal · U.S. Army

Robert Mitchell Cox

Corporal Robert Mitchell Cox, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on May 22, 1863 in Vicksburg, Mississippi during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War May 22, 1863

Corporal Robert Mitchell Cox was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 22, 1863 in Vicksburg, Mississippi during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company K, 55th Illinois Infantry. Cox was 18 years old.

99 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on December 31, 1892, 29 years after the action.

Cox was born on March 19, 1845 in Guernsey County, Ohio. His Medal of Honor is credited to Prairie City, McDonough County, Illinois. Cox died on October 26, 1932 in Prairie City, Illinois, at the age of 87. He is buried at Prairie City Cemetery in Prairie City, Illinois.

Cox 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

Bravely defended the colors planted on the outward parapet of Fort Hill.

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

Battles and campaigns

1863 · Civil War

Siege of Vicksburg

Result: Union victory

21 Medal of Honor recipients

Places

  • Born: Guernsey County — map
  • Died: Prairie City — map
  • Buried: Prairie City Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Illinois →

Timeline

  1. March 19, 1845
    Born in Guernsey County, Ohio
  2. May 22, 1863
    Act of valor — Vicksburg, Mississippi
    Age 18. Company K, 55th Illinois Infantry
  3. December 31, 1892
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. October 26, 1932
    Died in Prairie City, Illinois
    Age 87.
  5. Resting place
    Prairie City Cemetery
    Prairie City, Illinois

Biography

Corporal Robert M. Cox (March 19, 1845–October 26, 1932) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Cox received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action during the Battle of Vicksburg in Mississippi on May 22, 1863. He was honored with the award on December 31, 1892.

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

Also honored for actions on May 22, 1863

CA Christian Albert Private · Army Civil War · 1863 WA William J. Archinal Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 CA Clinton Lycurgus Armstrong Private · Army Civil War · 1863 DA David Ayers Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 JA John G. k Ayers Private · Army Civil War · 1863 WB William H. Barringer Private · Army Civil War · 1863 MB Matthew Bickford Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 TB Thomas A. Blasdel Private · Army Civil War · 1863 EB Emmer Bowen Private · Army Civil War · 1863 UB Uriah H. Brown Private · Army Civil War · 1863 WB William P. Brownell Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1863 JB John C. Buckley Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863

See all 100 recipients for May 22, 1863 →

More Civil War recipients from Illinois

JM James K. Merrifield Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 JH John P. Hughey Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 CA Charles Asten Quarter Gunner · Navy Civil War · 1864 John Shapland Private · Army Civil War · 1863 JC John Henry Cook Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 DN Daniel Noble Landsman · Navy 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.