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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

First Lieutenant · U.S. Army

Theodore Schwan

First Lieutenant Theodore Schwan, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on October 1, 1864 at Peebles Farm, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War October 1, 1864Born in Germany

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, First Lieutenant Theodore Schwan received the Medal of Honor for his actions on October 1, 1864 at Peebles Farm, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 10th U.S. Infantry. Schwan was 23 years old.

3 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on December 12, 1898, 34 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Major General.

Schwan was born on July 9, 1841 in Hanover, Germany — one of 130 recipients born in Germany. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York. Schwan died on May 27, 1926 in Washington, District of Columbia, at the age of 84. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

Schwan 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

At the imminent risk of his own life, while his regiment was falling back before a superior force of the enemy, he dragged a wounded and helpless officer to the rear, thus saving him from death or capture.

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

Wounds and injuries

What the citation records about his wounds:

At the imminent risk of his own life, while his regiment was falling back before a superior force of the enemy, he dragged a wounded and helpless officer to the rear, thus saving him from death or capture.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: Spanish–American War.

Places

  • Born: Hanover — map
  • Died: Washington, D.C. — map
  • Buried: Arlington National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. July 9, 1841
    Born in Hanover, Germany
  2. October 1, 1864
    Act of valor — Peebles Farm, Virginia
    Age 23. 10th U.S. Infantry
  3. December 12, 1898
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. May 27, 1926
    Died in Washington, District of Columbia
    Age 84.
  5. Resting place
    Arlington National Cemetery
    Arlington, Virginia

Biography

Theodore Schwan (July 9, 1841 – May 27, 1926) was a Union Army officer during the American Civil War who received the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Peebles' Farm. He also served with distinction during the Spanish–American and Philippine–American Wars.

From the Wikipedia article “Theodore Schwan”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on October 1, 1864

JC James T. Clancy Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 Joseph S. Keen Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 RW Robert Wright Private · Army Civil War · 1864

More Civil War recipients from New York

TE Thomas English Signal Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1865 CM Charles Mills Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 TC Thomas D. Collins Sr. Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 GM George McKee Color Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 Charles Franklin Rand Private · Army Civil War · 1861 PD Patrick H. Doody Corporal · Army 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.