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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Colonel · U.S. Army

Thomas Orville Seaver

Colonel Thomas Orville Seaver, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on May 10, 1864 in Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War May 10, 1864

Colonel Thomas Orville Seaver was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 10, 1864 in Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 3d Vermont Infantry. Seaver was 30 years old.

One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 8, 1892, 27 years after the action.

Seaver was born on December 23, 1833 in Cavendish, Windsor County, Vermont. His Medal of Honor is credited to Pomfret, Windsor County, Vermont. Seaver died on July 11, 1912 in Woodstock, Vermont, at the age of 78. He is buried at River Street Cemetery in Woodstock, Vermont.

Seaver is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 47 credited to Vermont.

Official Medal of Honor citation

At the head of three regiments and under a most galling fire, attacked and occupied the enemy's works.

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

Battles and campaigns

1862 · Civil War

Battle of Antietam

Result: Union victory (see aftermath)

8 Medal of Honor recipients

 1864 · Civil War

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House

Result: Inconclusive

11 Medal of Honor recipients

 1863 · Civil War

Battle of Gettysburg

Result: Union victory

21 Medal of Honor recipients

Also served in: American Civil War.

Life beyond the battlefield

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: Cavendish — map
  • Died: Woodstock — map
  • Buried: Vermont — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Vermont →

Timeline

  1. December 23, 1833
    Born in Cavendish, Windsor County, Vermont
  2. May 10, 1864
    Act of valor — Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia
    Age 30. 3d Vermont Infantry
  3. April 8, 1892
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. July 11, 1912
    Died in Woodstock, Vermont
    Age 78.
  5. Resting place
    River Street Cemetery
    Woodstock, Vermont

Biography

Thomas Orville Seaver (December 23, 1833 – July 11, 1912) rose to the rank of colonel in the U.S. Army during the American Civil War and received the Medal of Honor, America's highest military decoration, for his actions at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House. After the war Seaver was admitted to the Vermont bar and practiced law, serving as a judge for many years, until his death.

From the Wikipedia article “Thomas O. Seaver”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on May 10, 1864

Moses Augustine Luce Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864

More Civil War recipients from Vermont

GH Gardner C. Hawkins First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 CD Charles W. Dolloff Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 Julian A. Scott Drummer · Army Civil War · 1862 Squire Edward Howard First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 EJ Erastus W. Jewett First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864 AB Alexander Mitchell Beatty Captain · 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.