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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Major · U.S. Army

Sidney Warren Thaxter

Major Sidney Warren Thaxter, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on October 27, 1864 at Hatcher's Run, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War October 27, 1864

Major Sidney Warren Thaxter, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on October 27, 1864 at Hatcher's Run, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 1st Maine Cavalry. Thaxter was 25 years old.

15 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on September 10, 1897, 32 years after the action.

Thaxter was born on September 8, 1839 in Bangor, Penobscot County, Maine. Thaxter died on November 10, 1898 in Portland, Maine, at the age of 59. He is buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Portland, Maine.

Thaxter is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 66 credited to Maine.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Voluntarily remained and participated in the battle with conspicuous gallantry, although his term of service had expired and he had been ordered home to be mustered out.

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

Timeline

  1. September 8, 1839
    Born in Bangor, Penobscot County, Maine
  2. October 27, 1864
    Act of valor — Hatcher's Run, Virginia
    Age 25. 1st Maine Cavalry
  3. September 10, 1897
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. November 10, 1898
    Died in Portland, Maine
    Age 59.
  5. Resting place
    Evergreen Cemetery
    Portland, Maine

Also honored for actions on October 27, 1864

SB Sylvester Bonnaffon Jr. First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864 Jeremiah Z. Brown Captain · Army Civil War · 1864 LD Lorenzo Denning Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1864 AE Andrew Henry Embler Captain · Army Civil War · 1864 Daniel Griffin George Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864 RH Richard Hamilton Coal Heaver · Navy Civil War · 1864 Bernard Harley Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864 EH Edward J. Houghton Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864 Robert Henry King Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1864 DM Daniel J. Murphy Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 CO Charles Alvin Orr Private · Army Civil War · 1864 Alonzo Smith Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864

See all 16 recipients for October 27, 1864 →

Same unit

Charles Henry Smith Colonel · Army Civil War · 1864 ET Edward Parsons Tobie Jr. Sergeant Major · Army Civil War · 1865

More Civil War recipients from Maine

MH Moses C. Hanscom Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 JA John Angling Cabin Boy · Navy Civil War · 1864 Albert E. Fernald First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 RS Richard Henry Seward Paymaster's Steward · Navy Civil War · 1863 EW Edward Newton Whittier First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864 Lewellyn Garrish Estes Captain & Assistant Adjutant General · Army Civil War · 1864
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.