David Lewis Gifford
David L. Gifford | |
|---|---|
 Medal of Honor winner David Lewis Gifford | |
| Born | September 18, 1844 Dartmouth, Massachusetts |
| Died | January 13, 1904 (aged 59) Dartmouth, Massachusetts |
| Buried | South Dartmouth Cemetery, Dartmouth, Massachusetts |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ | United States Army Union Army United States Navy Union Navy |
| Years of service | 1863 – 1864 (Army) 1864 – 1865 (Navy) |
| Rank | Private (Army) Ordinary seaman (Navy) |
| Unit |  Company B, 4th Massachusetts Volunteer Cavalry |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
| Awards |  Medal of Honor |
David Lewis Gifford (September 18, 1844 – January 13, 1904) was a Union Army soldier in the American Civil War who received the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.[1] He was awarded the Medal of Honor, for extraordinary heroism shown on May 24, 1864, while serving as a Private with Company B, 4th Massachusetts Volunteer Cavalry, at Ashepoo River, South Carolina. His Medal of Honor was issued on January 21, 1897.[2] He received his Medal of Honor following the steamer the USS Boston running aground on an Oyster bed, leaving 400 individuals within range of Confederate artillery. Gifford and four other men - led by George W. Brush - manned a small boat and ferried stranded soldiers to a safe area.[3][4]
Gifford was born in Dartmouth, Massachusetts on September 18, 1844, and joined the Army in December 1863.[5] He was transferred to the Navy in June 1864, and was discharged with the rank of ordinary seaman in August 1865.[6]
Gifford died at the age of 59, on January 13, 1904, and was buried at the South Dartmouth Cemetery in Dartmouth, Massachusetts. Where he was honored with a marker.[7] He was additionally honored with a statue outside the Dartmouth Middle School.[8]
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 David L. Gifford, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 24 May 1864, while serving with Company B, 4th Massachusetts Cavalry, in action at Ashepoo River, South Carolina. Private Gifford volunteered as a member of a boat crew which went to the rescue of a large number of Union soldiers on board the stranded steamer Boston and with great gallantry assisted in conveying them to shore, being exposed during the entire time to a heavy fire from a Confederate battery.[9]
See Also
• List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: G–L
References
- ^ "Medal of Honor Recipients". United States Army Center of Military History. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
- ^ "GIFFORD, DAVID L." Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
- ^ "Valor awards for David L. Gifford". web.archive.org. 2014-08-12. Archived from the original on 2014-08-12. Retrieved 2022-07-24.
- ^ Browne, Patrick (2019-01-28). "Dartmouth". Massachusetts Civil War Monuments Project. Retrieved 2022-07-24.
- ^ Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors and Marines in the Civil War, Vol VI
- ^ Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors and Marines in the Civil War, Vol VIII
- ^ writer, CURT BROWN, Standard-Times staff. "Civil War hero receives marker for Medal of Honor". New Bedford Standard-Times. Retrieved 2022-06-27.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Browne, Patrick (2019-01-28). "Dartmouth". Massachusetts Civil War Monuments Project. Retrieved 2022-06-27.
- ^ "Valor awards for David L. Gifford". Military Times, Hall of Valor. Archived from the original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
External links
- "David Lewis Gifford". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.
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