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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Corporal · U.S. Army

Wesley James Powers

Corporal Wesley James Powers, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on April 3, 1865 at Oostanaula River, Georgia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War April 3, 1865Born in Canada

Corporal Wesley James Powers was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 3, 1865 at Oostanaula River, Georgia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company F, 147th Illinois Infantry. Powers was 19 years old.

3 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on October 24, 1895, 30 years after the action.

Powers was born on October 26, 1845 in Orono, Canada — one of 60 recipients born in Canada. His Medal of Honor is credited to Virgil, Kane County, Illinois. Powers died on December 14, 1902 in St. Charles, Illinois, at the age of 57. He is buried at North Cemetery in St. Charles, Illinois.

Powers 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

Voluntarily swam the river under heavy fire and secured a ferryboat, by means of which the command crossed.

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

Timeline

  1. October 26, 1845
    Born in Orono, Canada
  2. April 3, 1865
    Act of valor — Oostanaula River, Georgia
    Age 19. Company F, 147th Illinois Infantry
  3. October 24, 1895
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. December 14, 1902
    Died in St. Charles, Illinois
    Age 57.
  5. Resting place
    North Cemetery
    St. Charles, Illinois

Also honored for actions on April 3, 1865

MB Milton Blickensderger Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 WB William Brant Jr. Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 EB Elijah A. Briggs Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865

More Civil War recipients from Illinois

RG Richard J. Gage Private · Army Civil War · 1863 Thomas J. Ward Private · Army Civil War · 1863 SJ Simeon T. Josselyn First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1863 WR William Reed Private · Army Civil War · 1863 DN Daniel Noble Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1864 PM Patrick McGuire Private · Army Civil War · 1863
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.