Leonidas Mahlon Godley (June 13, 1836 – May 23, 1904) was a

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 ...

soldier during 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 ...

. He enlisted as 2nd Sergeant of Company E,

22nd Iowa Infantry Regiment The 22nd Iowa Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Service The 22nd Iowa Infantry, also known as the "Johnson County Regiment", was organized at Iowa City, Iowa and mustered in ...

on August 6, 1862, and was promoted 1st Sergeant in January 1863. He received 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 gallantry during the Siege of Vicksburg on May 22, 1863.

Union assault

On the morning of May 22, 1863, General

Ulysses S. Grant Ulysses S. Grant (born Hiram Ulysses Grant ; April 27, 1822July 23, 1885) was an American military officer and politician who served as the 18th president of the United States from 1869 to 1877. As Commanding General, he led the Union Ar ...

undertook a general assault of the three corps under his command - the XIII Corps,

XV Corps 15th Corps, Fifteenth Corps, or XV Corps may refer to: *XV Corps (British India) *XV Corps (German Empire), a unit of the Imperial German Army prior to and during World War I *15th Army Corps (Russian Empire), a unit in World War I *XV Royal Bavar ...

and XVII Corps - on the Confederate defenses protecting

Vicksburg, Mississippi Vicksburg is a historic city in Warren County, Mississippi, United States. It is the county seat, and the population at the 2010 census was 23,856. Located on a high bluff on the east bank of the Mississippi River across from Louisiana, Vic ...

. The 22nd Iowa, of the XIII Corps, was directed toward an earthen fortification near the tracks of the Southern Railroad - the " Railroad Redoubt". Godley helped lead men of the 22nd towards the Redoubt, and succeeded with others in getting to the

parapet A parapet is a barrier that is an extension of the wall at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony, walkway or other structure. The word comes ultimately from the Italian ''parapetto'' (''parare'' 'to cover/defend' and ''petto'' 'chest/breast'). Whe ...

of the earthworks, before he was severely wounded and captured. Other soldiers of the 22nd later gained possession of a part of the outer works of the Redoubt, but were eventually forced out. By the end of the day's fighting, the 22nd Iowa suffered 82% of its men killed, wounded or captured - one of the highest single-action casualty rates suffered by any Civil War regiment. Vanishing Footprints, The Twenty-Second Iowa Volunteer Infantry in the Civil War by Samuel D. Pryce, Edited by Jeffry C. Burden, Camp Pope Bookshop 2008, page 126./http://www.camppope.com/pryce.html Godley received the Medal of Honor on August 3, 1897.

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 First Sergeant Leonidas Mahlon Godley, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 22 May 1863, while serving with Company E, 22d Iowa Infantry, in action at Vicksburg, Mississippi. First Sergeant Godley led his company in the assault on the enemy's works and gained the parapet, there receiving three very severe wounds. He lay all day in the sun, was taken prisoner, and had his leg amputated without anesthetics.

References

External links

Military Times Hall of Valor22iowa.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Godley, Leonidas M. 1836 births 1904 deaths American Civil War recipients of the Medal of Honor Military personnel from West Virginia People from Mason County, West Virginia People of Iowa in the American Civil War People of West Virginia in the American Civil War United States Army Medal of Honor recipients Union Army soldiers

Union assault

Medal of Honor citation

See also

References

External links