John C. Curtis

John Calvin Curtis
Born (1845-04-17)April 17, 1845
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Died January 17, 1917(1917-01-17) (aged 71)
Place of burial Mountain Grove Cemetery,
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Allegiance United States United States of America
Union
Service/branch United States Army
Union Army
Years of service 1861-1865
Rank First Lieutenant
Unit Connecticut 9th Connecticut Regiment Infantry
Battles/wars American Civil War
*Battle of Baton Rouge (1862)
Awards Medal of Honor

John Calvin Curtis (April 17, 1845 – January 17, 1917) was a Lieutenant of the Ninth Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry in the American Civil War, and a Medal of Honor recipient.

Curtis was born on April 17, 1845 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He enlisted in the Ninth Regiment on August 17, 1861. On August 5, 1862, as a Sergeant-Major at age 17, he became instrumental in repulsing a Confederate attack aimed at recapturing Baton Rouge, Louisiana. During heavy firing, he "voluntarily sought the line of battle and alone and unaided captured 2 prisoners, driving them before him to regimental headquarters at the point of the bayonet."[1] For this act, Curtis received the Medal of Honor on December 16, 1896, the only soldier from the Ninth to be so honored.

Curtis was later promoted to First Lieutenant. He died on January 17, 1917, and was buried at Mountain Grove Cemetery in Bridgeport.[2]

Medal of Honor citation

He voluntarily sought the line of battle and alone and unaided captured 2 prisoners, driving them before him to regimental headquarters at the point of the bayonet.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Medal of Honor citation
  2. ↑ MoH recipients' grave sites

References

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