James Pipes (November 10, 1840 – December 1, 1928) was an American soldier who fought with 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 ...

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 ...

. Pipes received his country's highest award for bravery during combat, the

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. ...

, for actions taken on July 2, 1863 during the

Battle of Gettysburg The Battle of Gettysburg () was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, by Union and Confederate forces during the American Civil War. In the battle, Union Major General George Meade's Army of the Po ...

Civil War service

On August 18, 1862, Pipes enlisted with a volunteer unit from Greene County that would become part of the 140th Pennsylvania Infantry. This unit was created by five men in western Pennsylvania, among them James J. Purman who would go on to win the Medal of Honor alongside Pipes. When the 140th was mustered, Pipes was ranked a sergeant, and Purman a second lieutenant. In 1863, the 140th Pennsylvania Infantry fought in the

. On the first day of battle, July 1, Pipes and Purman were on a path of retreat when they doubled back to help save a wounded soldier. After getting the soldier to safety, both men were shot in the legs. Pipes was captured by the Confederates, but was liberated by Union troops the next morning. After spending some time in a Philadelphia hospital, Pipes was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. He returned to the field in November. After Gettysburg, Pipes served in the

Siege of Petersburg The Richmond–Petersburg campaign was a series of battles around Petersburg, Virginia, fought from June 9, 1864, to March 25, 1865, during the American Civil War. Although it is more popularly known as the Siege of Petersburg, it was not a cla ...

where he was promoted to captain in June 1864. On August 24, Pipes was commanding a group of soldiers guarding a section of enemy train tracks and was attacked by enemy troops. As he commanded his troops' retreat, his right arm was shot and had to be amputated that night. He was hospitalized through November, and was discharged for disability in February 1865.

Medal of Honor citation

Personal life

After the war, Pipes moved to

Wheeling, West Virginia Wheeling is a city in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Located almost entirely in Ohio County, of which it is the county seat, it lies along the Ohio River in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and also contains a tiny portion extending ...

, where his family had relocated to during the war. In December 1869 he received an artificial arm. The following year he married Martha Rowena Purdy and had five children by her. Pipes died of pneumonia in 1928 and was buried in

Arlington National Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery is one of two national cemeteries run by the United States Army. Nearly 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington, Virginia. There are about 30 funerals conducted on weekdays and 7 held on Sa ...

References

External links

Arlington National Cemetery
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pipes, James 1840 births 1928 deaths American Civil War recipients of the Medal of Honor People from Greene County, Pennsylvania People of Pennsylvania in the American Civil War Burials at Arlington National Cemetery United States Army Medal of Honor recipients