Rank Sergeant Awards Medal of Honor | Died 1924 Name John Buffington | |
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Allegiance United States of America Years of service August 21, 1862 to June 20, 1865 Battles/wars Third Battle of Petersburg Battles and wars Third Battle of Petersburg | ||
Service/branch United States Army | ||
Sergeant John E. Buffington (July 12, 1839 to April 26, 1915) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Buffington received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action during the Third Battle of Petersburg in Virginia on 2 April 1865. He was honored with the award on 3 April 1908.
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Biography
Born in Carroll County, Maryland, Buffington enlisted in the 6th Maryland Infantry Regiment. He is noted as the first Union soldier to raise a flag within the Confederates lines for the Third Division of the VI Corps of the Union Army at the Third Battle of Petersburg. This act, which he performed on 2 April 1865, earned him the medal of honor. However, Buffington was not presented with the medal until 1908 as he had mustered out of the army without applying for it.
Medal of Honor citation
Was the first enlisted man of the 3d Division to mount the parapet of the enemy's line.