First Lieutenant Rufus King Jr. was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on June 30, 1862 at White Oak Swamp Bridge, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 4th U.S. Artillery. King was 24 years old.
6 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 2, 1898, 35 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Brevet Major.
King was born on March 21, 1838 in New York. King died on March 18, 1900 in New York, New York, at the age of 61. He is buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Hillside, New Jersey.
King 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
This officer, when his captain was wounded, succeeded to the command of two batteries while engaged against a superior force of the enemy and fought his guns most gallantly until compelled to retire.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
Timeline
- March 21, 1838Born in New York
- June 30, 1862Act of valor — White Oak Swamp Bridge, VirginiaAge 24. 4th U.S. Artillery
- April 2, 1898Medal of Honor presented
- March 18, 1900Died in New York, New YorkAge 61.
- Resting placeEvergreen CemeteryHillside, New Jersey
Biography
Rufus King Jr. (March 21, 1838 – March 18, 1900) was an artillery officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War, and a Medal of Honor recipient.
From the Wikipedia article “Rufus King Jr.”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
