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The Medal of Honor is our Nation’s highest military decoration. Due to its
rigorous selection criteria, there have been fewer than 3,500 recipients—and of
those, fully one in four are New Yorkers.
In our own region, at least 45 Medal of Honor recipients have been associated withOswego, Jefferson or St. Lawrence Counties. New York State—and particularly the
communities of Northern and Central New York—is truly the Home of Heroes.
This exhibit honors recipients of the Medal of Honor, in conjunction with the
150th anniversary of the award’s creation by President Abraham Lincoln.
The Medal of Honor“For Conspicuous Gallantry and
Intrepidity in Action At the Risk of LifeAbove and Beyond the Call of Duty”
New York State Senator
Patty Ritchie
I’ve introduced legislation to pay tribute to New York’s Medal of
Honor recipients by naming some of the bridges and overpassesof our state in their honor. Learn more about my “Heroes
Highways” bill by visiting my website, www.ritchie.nysenate.gov.
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Senator Patty Ritchie has proposed legislation to honor New York’s Medal of Honor recipients by
naming some of the state’s 20,000 highway bridges for these “Hometown Heroes.”
Marine Sgt. Sprowle, of Lisbon, was aboard the USS Richmond
during action against Confederate forts and gunboats in Mobile
Bay. Despite damage to his ship and the loss of several men onboard as enemy re raked her decks, Sgt. Sprowle directed the
ship’s great guns and forced the surrender of an enemy ship
and destroyed the batteries at Fort Morgan. He is buried in
Red Mills Cemetery.
Courage under re
Sgt. David SprowleAugust 5, 1864
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Senator Patty Ritchie has proposed legislation to honor New York’s Medal of Honor recipients by
naming some of the state’s 20,000 highway bridges for these “Hometown Heroes.”
Gouverneur’s Lt. Walling led his troops in a Christmas
Day assault against Fort Fisher—“the Gibraltar of theSouth”—and captured the enemy ag. After the war,
he served as Deputy Customs Collector in Ogdensburg,
and was elected St. Lawrence County Sheriff in 1870.
From ‘Gibraltar’ to
County Sheriff
Lt. William WallingDecember 25, 1864
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Senator Patty Ritchie has proposed legislation to honor New York’s Medal of Honor recipients by
naming some of the state’s 20,000 highway bridges for these “Hometown Heroes.”
Pvt. Allen enlisted in the 16th New York Infantry at
Potsdam, and received his Medal of Honor during the
battle of South Mountain in Maryland, when he single
handedly accosted a squad of 14 Confederate soldiers,
convincing them to surrender and captured the colors
of the 16th Georgia Infantry.
He took prisoners
Private James AllenSeptember 14, 1862
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Senator Patty Ritchie has proposed legislation to honor New York’s Medal of Honor recipients by
naming some of the state’s 20,000 highway bridges for these “Hometown Heroes.”
Born in Brasher, Cpl. Johnson enlisted in the Union
Army in Ogdensburg. He voluntarily exposed himself to a Confederate sniper at New Hope Church, Ga., and
made it possible for his comrades to shoot the sniper.
He is buried at Old Pine Grove Cemetery in Massena.
Flushing out a deadly sniper
Corporal Philot
(Follett) JohnsonMay 27, 1864
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Senator Patty Ritchie has proposed legislation to honor New York’s Medal of Honor recipients by
naming some of the state’s 20,000 highway bridges for these “Hometown Heroes.”
Pinned down by enemy re and armed only with a ri e, Pfc.
Magrath, a member of the famed 10th Mountain Division, attacked
a German machine gun emplacement. Five Germans emerged fromtheir foxholes, ring at Magrath and retreating toward their own
lines. Picking up the German machine gun, Magrath attacked the
eeing enemy. He captured a second German position, and was
killed later that same day when two mortar rounds landed at his
feet as he crossed a eld. In 1995, Fort Drum renamed its Soldiers
Sports Complex as the John D. Magrath Gymnasium.
Fearless under re
Pfc. John D.
Magrath
April 14, 1945
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Senator Patty Ritchie has proposed legislation to honor New York’s Medal of Honor recipients by
naming some of the state’s 20,000 highway bridges for these “Hometown Heroes.”
Stationed at Madison Barracks in Sackets Harbor,
Cpt. Brewster received the Medal of Honor duringthe Boxer Rebellion in China when he rescued two
men under his command from drowning while
under re from the enemy. He retired in 1925 with
the rank of Major General.
He risked drowning to
save his men
Cpt. Andre Walker
Brewster July 13, 1900
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Senator Patty Ritchie has proposed legislation to honor New York’s Medal of Honor recipients by
naming some of the state’s 20,000 highway bridges for these “Hometown Heroes.”
2LT Wallace was a member of the 9th Infantry Regiment
stationed at Madison Barracks in Sackets Harbor,
and received his Medal for his actions at Luzon, the
Phillipines, when ambushed, he helped a wounded
fellow soldier to aid in a town that was a mile away.
Marched a mile to help
a stricken comrade
2nd Lt. George W.
WallaceMarch 4, 1900
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Senator Patty Ritchie has proposed legislation to honor New York’s Medal of Honor recipients by
naming some of the state’s 20,000 highway bridges for these “Hometown Heroes.”
On D-Day, Fulton’s Pvt. Barrett was forced to wade ashore through
neck-deep water under heavy enemy re. Disregarding personal
danger, he returned to the surf again and again to assist his
oundering comrades and save them from drowning. Refusing to
remain pinned down by the intense barrage of small-arms and
mortar re, Pvt. Barrett saved many lives by carrying casualties to
an evacuation boat lying offshore, and risked his life during many
hours to help rally troops on the beach.
Courage under re
Pvt. Carlton William
Barrett June 6, 1944
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Senator Patty Ritchie has proposed legislation to honor New York’s Medal of Honor recipients by
naming some of the state’s 20,000 highway bridges for these “Hometown Heroes.”
During the battle of Hatcher’s Run, Va., Oswego’s
Major Coey seized the 147th New York Infantry
regimental colors and led the entire brigade to follow
him in an attack on the enemy. After being severely
wounded, he asked to be lifted into the saddle of
his horse and a second time rallied the line in an
attempt to check the enemy.
Major James Coey
February 6, 1865 A leader of men
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Senator Patty Ritchie has proposed legislation to honor New York’s Medal of Honor recipients by
naming some of the state’s 20,000 highway bridges for these “Hometown Heroes.”
Sandy Creek’s Lt. Hadley carried important dispatches
from Gen. Grant through enemy lines to Gen.Burnside, whose forces were besieged within Knoxville.
He brought back replies through enemy lines even
though his comrade was taken prisoner after his
horse was killed.
He delivered with courage
Lt. Cornelius Minor
HadleyNovember 20, 1863
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Senator Patty Ritchie has proposed legislation to honor New York’s Medal of Honor recipients by
naming some of the state’s 20,000 highway bridges for these “Hometown Heroes.”
Lt. Preston joined the Army at Fulton and, though
assigned to the quartermaster corps, he volunteered to
march on an important Confederate position. When his
captain was killed, Lt. Preston rallied the men and led
them despite heavy small arms and artillery re until
he was shot in the hip and severely wounded.
A fearless leader
1LT Noble D. Preston
November 20, 1863
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Senator Patty Ritchie has proposed legislation to honor New York’s Medal of Honor recipients by
naming some of the state’s 20,000 highway bridges for these “Hometown Heroes.”
Born in Oswego, Cpl. Plant received the Medal of
Honor at Bentonville, NC, when he rushed into the
midst of the enemy and rescued the colors after the
Color Bearer had fallen mortally wounded.
Defender of our ag
Cpl. Henry E.
PlantMarch 19, 1865