Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Second Lieutenant Robert Niven received the Medal of Honor for his actions on March 2, 1865 in Waynesboro, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company H, 8th New York Cavalry. Niven was 31 years old.
13 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on March 26, 1865. He later rose to the rank of Captain.
Niven was born on December 18, 1833 in Harlem, New York County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to Rochester, Monroe County, New York. Niven died on February 21, 1921 in Providence, Rhode Island, at the age of 87. He is buried at Pawtuxet Park Cemetery in Lakewood, Rhode Island.
Niven is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 678 credited to New York.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Capture of two flags.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Places
- Buried: Warwick — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
Timeline
- December 18, 1833Born in Harlem, New York County, New York
- March 2, 1865Act of valor — Waynesboro, VirginiaAge 31. Company H, 8th New York Cavalry
- March 26, 1865Medal of Honor presented
- February 21, 1921Died in Providence, Rhode IslandAge 87.
- Resting placePawtuxet Park CemeteryLakewood, Rhode Island
Biography
Robert Niven (December 18, 1833 - December 21, 1921) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Niven received his country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor. Niven's medal was won for capturing two Confederate flags at the Battle of Waynesboro, Virginia, on March 2, 1865. He was honored with the award on March 26, 1865. Niven was born in Harlem in New York and entered service in Rochester. He was later buried in Lakewood, Rhode Island.
From the Wikipedia article “Robert Niven (soldier)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
