First Lieutenant Wells Howard Blodgett was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on September 30, 1862 in Newtonia, Missouri during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company D, 37th Illinois Infantry. Blodgett was 23 years old.
The medal was presented on February 15, 1894, 31 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Colonel.
Blodgett was born on January 29, 1839 in Downer's Grove, Du Page County, Illinois. His Medal of Honor is credited to Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Blodgett died on May 8, 1929 in St. Louis, Missouri, at the age of 90. He is buried at Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri. Records also list him as Blodgett, Willis.
Blodgett is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 210 credited to Illinois.
Official Medal of Honor citation
With a single orderly, captured an armed picket of eight men and marched them in as prisoners.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: First Battle of Newtonia.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Illinois →
Timeline
- January 29, 1839Born in Downer's Grove, Du Page County, Illinois
- September 30, 1862Act of valor — Newtonia, MissouriAge 23. Company D, 37th Illinois Infantry
- February 15, 1894Medal of Honor presented
- May 8, 1929Died in St. Louis, MissouriAge 90.
- Resting placeBellefontaine CemeterySt. Louis, Missouri
Biography
First Lieutenant Wells H. Blodgett (January 29, 1839 – May 8, 1929) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Blodgett received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action during the First Battle of Newtonia in Missouri on September 30, 1862. He was honored with the award on February 15, 1894.
From the Wikipedia article “Wells H. Blodgett”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
