VERMONTERS
Awarded the Medal of Honor
in the ACW
Captain John Lonergan
13th VT Infantry Regiment Company A
3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 1st Corps
Born: April 7, 1839 - Died: August 6, 1902.
Entered Service at Burlington,Vermont.
Born in Ireland
Buried: Lake View Cemetery Burlington, Vermont
Medal
of Honor date of issue October 28, 1893
Citation: Gallantry in the Recapture of Four Guns and the capture
of two additional guns from the enemy; also the capture of a number of
prisoners.
Service at Gettysburg: Just before dark on July 2, the four guns of
Battery C, 15th U.S. Artillery were captured by Longstreet's Confederates.
Seeing the guns being carried off by the enemy, Major General Hancock
found the 13th Vermont in reserve and requested they recapture the guns if
possible. Captain Lonergan's Company A was the first to reach the
cannons. After recapturing these guns the Vermonters went on to capture
two rebel cannons that were brought to bear on them. While heading back
to the Union line Lonergan noticed that his command was receiving enemy fire
from the nearby Codori House. He ordered his men to drop drop the guns
and follow him to the house. Lonergan himself opened the door to the hosue and
ordered the Confederates within to surrender. Captain Lonergan and his men
returned with six cannons and 83 prisoners.
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