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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Corporal · U.S. Army

Winthrop D. Putnam

Corporal Winthrop D. Putnam, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on May 22, 1863 in Vicksburg, Mississippi during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War May 22, 1863

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Corporal Winthrop D. Putnam received the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 22, 1863 in Vicksburg, Mississippi during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Compant A, 77th Illinois Infantry. Putnam was 25 years old.

99 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 4, 1898, 34 years after the action.

Putnam was born on September 18, 1837 in Southbridge, Worcester County, Massachusetts. His Medal of Honor is credited to Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois. Putnam died on January 15, 1907 in Wood, Wisconsin, at the age of 69. He is buried at Wood National Cemetery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Putnam 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

Carried, with others, by hand, a cannon up to and fired it through an embrasure of the enemy's works.

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

Battles and campaigns

1863 · Civil War

Siege of Vicksburg

Result: Union victory

21 Medal of Honor recipients

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Southbridge — map
  • Buried: Milwaukee — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Illinois →

Timeline

  1. September 18, 1837
    Born in Southbridge, Worcester County, Massachusetts
  2. May 22, 1863
    Act of valor — Vicksburg, Mississippi
    Age 25. Compant A, 77th Illinois Infantry
  3. April 4, 1898
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. January 15, 1907
    Died in Wood, Wisconsin
    Age 69.
  5. Resting place
    Wood National Cemetery
    Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Biography

Winthrop D. Putnam (September 18, 1837 – January 15, 1907) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Putnam received the United States' highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor. Putnam's medal was won for his actions at the Battle of Vicksburg, Mississippi on July 2, 1863. He was honored with the award on April 4, 1898. Putnam was born in Southbridge, Massachusetts, entered service in Peoria, Illinois, and was buried in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

From the Wikipedia article “Winthrop D. Putnam”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on May 22, 1863

CA Christian Albert Private · Army Civil War · 1863 WA William J. Archinal Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 CA Clinton Lycurgus Armstrong Private · Army Civil War · 1863 DA David Ayers Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 JA John G. k Ayers Private · Army Civil War · 1863 WB William H. Barringer Private · Army Civil War · 1863 MB Matthew Bickford Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 TB Thomas A. Blasdel Private · Army Civil War · 1863 EB Emmer Bowen Private · Army Civil War · 1863 UB Uriah H. Brown Private · Army Civil War · 1863 WB William P. Brownell Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1863 JB John C. Buckley Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863

See all 100 recipients for May 22, 1863 →

More Civil War recipients from Illinois

WM Wilbur F. Moore Private · Army Civil War · 1864 GS George Stokes Private · Army Civil War · 1864 HM Henry August Miller Captain · Army Civil War · 1865 JH John P. Hughey Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 Douglas Hapeman Lieutenant Colonel · Army Civil War · 1864 GM George Marsh Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863
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.