Fourteen Medals of Honor for USCT Troops at Battle of New Market Heights-- Part 2

The following is a list of the 14 USCT soldiers receiving Medals of Honor for action at this battle.

Private William H. Barnes   Co. C, 38th USCT, born St. Mary's County, Md.

First Sergeant Powhatan Beaty  Co. G, 5th USCT, born in Richmond, Va.

First Sergeant James H. Bronson   Co. D, 5th USCT, born in Indiana County, Pa.

Sergeant Major Christian A. Fleetwood   4th USCT, born Baltimore, Md.

Private James Gardiner   Co, I  36th USCT, born Gloucester, Va.

Sergeant James H. Harris  Co. B, 36th USCT, born St. Mary's County, Md.  His MoH was issued Feb. 18, 1874.

Sergeant Alfred B. Hilton   Co. H, 4th USCT   born Harford County, Md.

Sergeant Major Milton M. Holland   5th USCT   born in Austin, Texas

--Old Secesh

Union Soldiers Buried at Hampton National Cemetery in Virginia

From the Dec. 16, 2013, Hampton (Va.) Daily Press "A landmark graveyard filled with poignant stories of sacrifices and courage" by Mark St. John Erickson.

This article originally attracted my attention because of 28 German U-boat sailors buried there after their U-85 was sunk during World War II. I wrote about them in my World War II blog. I have also used Mr. Erickson's articles on the War of 1812 on several occasions in that blog. He sure gets the interesting things to write about.

Alongside the Germans are several hundred Union soldiers who died on nearby battlefields and many additional who died at the vast Hampton hospitals. In addition, some 300 Confederates who died at the hospitals are buried at the Hampton National Cemetery as well.

Six of the Civil War dead were awarded Medals of Honor, including two sailors who received their medals for action at the Battle of Mobile Bay. In addition, Sgt. Alfred B. Hilton and Pvt. Charles Veale who served in the 4th USCT who were stationed at Yorktown and killed at the Sept. 29, 1864, Battle of Chapins Farm.

A 65-foot Union monument dominates the cemetery landscape and was erected partly as a result of the actions of Clara Barton.

--Old Secesh

4th US Colored Troops

Jonah Key was wounded at what is called the Second Battle of Petersburg, the attempt by Union forces to take the town while it was lightly guarded. It was a failure and this ended up with the ten month siege of Petersburg.

Union forces might have captured it with ease at first, but delays enabled Lee to get reinforcements there.

Fighting lasted from June 15th to June 18th. Of 62,000 Union troops engaged, there were 8,150 casualties, including Mr. Key.

His regiment, the 4th US Colored, participated in both attacks on Fort Fisher and the Wilmington Campaign and were at Goldsboro, NC in March.

They participated in many engagements during their term of service. At Chaffin's Farm, three members received the Medal of Honor.

A Gallant Regiment. --Old B-R