Private Bruce Anderson of Co. K, 142nd NY received his at Fort Fisher January 15, 1865. He entered service at Ephratah, NY. He was born in Mexico, Oswego County New York June 9, 1845. However, the Medal of Honor wasn't issued until December 28, 1914.
He died in 1922 and is buried at Green Hill Cemetery in Amsterdam, New York.
He voluntarily advanced to the head of the attacking column and cut down the palisades under heavy enemy fire. He and 12 other men were recommended for Medsals of Honor by General Adelbert Ames, who himself had won one at the First Battle of Bull Run. Ames was also the last surviving general who served in the war when he died in 1933. Unfortunately, the paper work on all 13 was lost and they didn't receive the medals.
Getting What is Deserved
Forty-nine years later, Anderson hired a lawyer with the intention to get his Medal of Honor. Private Zachariah C. Neahr had gotten his decades earlier. Anderson got the Army Adjutant General to launch an investigation which uncovered the letter from Ames.
It was found that three men on the list were still alive besides Anderson: Alaric Chapin, George Merrill and Dewitt C. Hotchkiss and all were recognized with the medal. However, poor Hotchkiss was overlooked again and never received his.
After the Civil War, Anderson moved to Illinois for awhile, but returned to New York. When he died in 1922, he was one of the last Civil War medal of Honor winners living.
Wikipedia has him listed as a black man, one of only 25 blacks awarded a Medal of Honor during the Civil War.. I am not sure why a black man would be serving in a white regiment?
Fair's Fair. --Old B-Runner
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