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

Private · U.S. Army

Samuel E. Eddy

Private Samuel E. Eddy, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on April 6, 1865 at Deatonsville (Sailor's Creek), Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War April 6, 1865

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Private Samuel E. Eddy received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 6, 1865 at Deatonsville (Sailor's Creek), Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company D, 37th Massachusetts Infantry. Eddy was 42 years old.

59 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on September 1897, 32 years after the action.

Eddy was born on June 2, 1822 in Whitingham, Windham County, Vermont. His Medal of Honor is credited to Chesterfield, Hampshire County, Massachusetts. Eddy died on March 7, 1909, at the age of 86. He is buried at Mount Cemetery in West Chesterfield, Massachusetts.

Eddy is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 265 credited to Massachusetts.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Saved the life of the adjutant of his regiment by voluntarily going beyond the line and there killing one of the enemy then in the act of firing upon the wounded officer. Was assailed by several of the enemy, run through the body with a bayonet, and pinned to the ground, but while so situated he shot and killed his assailant.

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

Battles and campaigns

1865 · Civil War

Battle of Sailor's Creek

Result: Union victory

21 Medal of Honor recipients

Places

  • Born: Whitingham — map
  • Died: Chesterfield — map
  • Buried: Mount Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →

Timeline

  1. June 2, 1822
    Born in Whitingham, Windham County, Vermont
  2. April 6, 1865
    Act of valor — Deatonsville (Sailor's Creek), Virginia
    Age 42. Company D, 37th Massachusetts Infantry
  3. September 1897
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. March 7, 1909
    Died
    Age 86.
  5. Resting place
    Mount Cemetery
    West Chesterfield, Massachusetts

Biography

Private Samuel Edwin Eddy (June 2, 1822 – March 7, 1909) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Eddy received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action during the Battle of Sayler's Creek in Virginia on 6 April 1865. He was honored with the award on 10 September 1897.

From the Wikipedia article “Samuel Edwin Eddy”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on April 6, 1865

JB John Francis Benjamin Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 OB Orrin Bennett Private · Army Civil War · 1865 HB Hugh Patterson Boon Captain · Army Civil War · 1865 Lewis Francis Brest Private · Army Civil War · 1865 AB Andrew Bringle Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 IC Ivers S. Calkin First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 JC John Chapman Private · Army Civil War · 1865 AC Albert Adams Clapp First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 TC Trustrim Connell Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 FC Francis Marion Cunningham First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 Thomas Ward Custer Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 TD Thomas Davis Private · Army Civil War · 1865

See all 60 recipients for April 6, 1865 →

More Civil War recipients from Massachusetts

Thomas Foulds Ellsworth Captain · Army Civil War · 1864 JA John Gregory bishop Adams Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1862 William Marland First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1863 FW Frank M. Whitman Private · Army Civil War · 1862 CH Charles Adams Hunter Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 William Harvey Carney 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.