Andrew J. Lorish (November 8, 1832–August 11, 1897) was a Commissary Sergeant in the

Union Army During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union (American Civil War), Union of the collective U.S. st ...

and a

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. ...

recipient for his actions in the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

. Lorish joined the 1st New York Dragoons from

Attica, New York Attica is a Administrative divisions of New York#Town, town in Wyoming County, New York, Wyoming County, New York (state), New York, United States. The population was 7,702 as of 2010. The Town of Attica is on the northern boundary of the county ...

in August 1862. He was promoted to regimental

sergeant major Sergeant major is a senior non-commissioned rank or appointment in many militaries around the world. History In 16th century Spain, the ("sergeant major") was a general officer. He commanded an army's infantry, and ranked about third in the ...

the next month, but demoted to private before the end of the year. In October 1863 he became the regimental commissary sergeant. He was commissioned as a

second lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank. Australia The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until ...

in May 1865, and mustered out with his regiment in June. Lorish is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery,

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Commissary Sergeant, 19th New York Cavalry (1st New York Dragoons). Place and date: At Winchester, Va., September 19, 1864. Entered service at:------. Born: November 8, 1832, Dansville, Steuben County, N.Y. Date of issue: September 27, 1864 Citation:

Amid the enemy he grabbed the flag from a color bearer who then called for help. When the bearer's comrades were readying their rifles he dashed directly at them securing their disarming. As he rode away, the Confederates picked up their guns firing at the captor of their flag.

Sgt. Lorish was one of two members of the 1st New York Dragoons to receive the Medal of Honor in this action. The other was Corporal

Chester B. Bowen Chester Bennett Bowen (April 1, 1842 – March 16, 1905) was a Union soldier during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the Battle of Opequon more commonly called the Third Battle of Winchester, Virginia ...

. The flag that was captured by Bowen and Lorish was a CSA second national flag belonging to an unidentified unit in Col George S. Patton's Virginia Infantry Brigade. The flag is now in the possession of the

Museum of the Confederacy The American Civil War Museum is a multi-site museum in the Greater Richmond Region of central Virginia, dedicated to the history of the American Civil War. The museum operates three sites: The White House of the Confederacy, American Civil War M ...

Richmond, Virginia (Thus do we reach the stars) , image_map = , mapsize = 250 px , map_caption = Location within Virginia , pushpin_map = Virginia#USA , pushpin_label = Richmond , pushpin_m ...

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* 1832 births 1897 deaths United States Army Medal of Honor recipients United States Army soldiers People from Dansville, New York People of New York (state) in the American Civil War American Civil War recipients of the Medal of Honor People from Attica, New York {{AmericanCivilWar-bio-stub

Medal of Honor citation

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