James Richmond

Who was James Richmond?

James Richmond was a Union Army soldier in the American Civil War and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions at the Battle of Gettysburg.

Born in 1843 in Maine, Richmond was living in Toledo, Ohio, when he joined the Army. He served during the war as a private in Company F of the 8th Ohio Infantry. On July 3, 1863, during the Battle of Gettysburg, he captured a Confederate battle flag.

He was wounded at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House the next year, on May 12, 1864, and died of his injuries weeks later, on June 3. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

For his actions at Gettysburg, Richmond was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on December 1, 1864. His official citation reads simply: "Capture of flag."