David Southard (1845 – May 6, 1894) was a Union Army soldier during the American Civil War who received America's highest military decoration the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Sailors Creek

Civil War Service

He enlisted in the

1st New Jersey Volunteer Cavalry The 1st New Jersey Cavalry Regiment was a Union Army regiment from the U.S. state of New Jersey that participated in the American Civil War. Organization and Unit History The 1st New Jersey Cavalry Regiment was organized at Trenton, New Jersey, un ...

in the summer of 1861, and was mustered in as a Private in the unit's Company C on August 17, 1861. He served in the field continuously through the next four years, re-enlisting on February 25, 1864. A combination of excellent field service combined with the attrition the war took on his Company, he rose in the later half of 1864, being promoted to Corporal on September 1, 1864, and to

Sergeant Sergeant (abbreviated to Sgt. and capitalized when used as a named person's title) is a rank in many uniformed organizations, principally military and policing forces. The alternative spelling, ''serjeant'', is used in The Rifles and other uni ...

on December 12, 1864. He took part in the Union

cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from "cheval" meaning "horse") are soldiers or warriors who fight mounted on horseback. Cavalry were the most mobile of the combat arms, operating as light cavalry ...

operations in March and April 1865 that contributed to the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, performed post-war occupation duty, and was mustered out of service on July 24, 1865. On April 6, 1865 he fought in the

Battle of Sailor's Creek The Battle of Sailor's Creek was fought on April 6, 1865, near Farmville, Virginia, as part of the Appomattox Campaign, near the end of the American Civil War. It was the last major engagement between the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, c ...

, Virginia. There in the midst of the battle he performed his act of bravery that would garner him the Medal of Honor, as his citation explains – "Capture of flag; and was the first man over the works in the charge". His Medal was awarded to him on July 3, 1865. Eleven other members of the 1st New Jersey Cavalry were also awarded the Medal of Honor for their bravery during the Civil War, making it the most decorated New Jersey Civil War regiment.

Later life

Sergeant Southard was one of four brothers who fought in the Civil War, all of whom survived the war. He retired to

Ocean County, New Jersey Ocean County is a county located along the Jersey Shore in the south-central portion of the U.S. state of New Jersey. It borders the Atlantic Ocean on the east. Its county seat is Toms River.New Egypt, New Jersey. His grave is marked with a government issue Medal of Honor gravestone.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and Organization: :Sergeant, Company C, 1st New Jersey Cavalry. Place and date. At Sailors Creek, Va., April 6, 1865. Entered service at:------. Birth: Ocean County, N.J. Date of issue: July 3, 1865. Citation: :Capture of flag; and was the first man over the works in the charge. *

Notes

References

* Bilby, Joseph G. and Goble, William C., "''Remember You Are Jerseymen: A Military History of Jersey's Troops in the Civil War''", Longstreet House, Hightstown, 1998. . * Lang, George, Collins, Raymond L., and White, Gerald, ''Medal of Honor recipients 1863–1994'', 1995 * Stryker, William S., "''Record of Officers and Men of New Jersey in the Civil War 1861-1865''", Trenton, New Jersey, 1876. {{DEFAULTSORT:Southard, David Union Army soldiers 1845 births 1894 deaths People of New Jersey in the American Civil War United States Army Medal of Honor recipients American Civil War recipients of the Medal of Honor Burials in New Jersey

Civil War Service

Later life

Medal of Honor citation

See also

Notes

References