Years of service 1864 - 1865 | Name Philip Baybutt | |
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Battles/wars American Civil WarValley Campaigns of 1864 Died April 17, 1907, Lancashire, United Kingdom Service/branch | ||
Philip James Baybutt (November 22, 1844 – April 17, 1907) was a Union Army soldier during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the Valley Campaigns of 1864 for action at Luray, Virginia on September 24, 1864, becoming the first British citizen recipient of the award.
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While visiting his brother in the United States, Baybutt joined the US Army from Fall River, Massachusetts in February 1864, and mustered out with his regiment in July 1865.
Biography
Born in Manchester in 1844, he journeyed to Fall River, Massachusetts, America, to visit his brother, but he joined the Union Army when war broke out. The nonconformist working class community in his native city were strongly opposed to slavery, and this opposition continued despite the hardships resulting from the Union blockade and the consequent 'cotton famine'.Philip fought in eight major battles and was seriously wounded twice as two of his horses were shot beneath him. He was awarded the American equivalent of the Victoria Cross after snatching the enemy flag while fighting for the 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry. When he returned to Britain, he had eight children but never fully recovered from his injuries and died aged 62.
Medal of Honor citation
“The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private Philip Baybutt, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 24 September 1864, while serving with Company A, 2d Massachusetts Cavalry, in action at Luray, Virginia, for capture of flag.”