Andrew Davidson (soldier)

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Andrew Davidson
Born(1840-02-12)February 12, 1840
Morebattle, Scotland
DiedNovember 10, 1902(1902-11-10) (aged 62)
Bath, New York
Buried
Lakewood Cemetery
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service1862 - 1865
Rank Captain
Unit 121st New York Infantry
30th United States Colored Infantry Regiment Company H
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War
Awards Medal of Honor

Andrew Davidson (February 12, 1840 – November 10, 1902) was a Scottish soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Davidson received the United States' highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action during the Battle of the Crater in Petersburg, Virginia on 30 July 1864. He was honored with the award on 17 October 1892.[1][2][3]

Biography[edit]

Davidson was born in Morebattle, Scotland on 12 February 1840. He enlisted with the 121st New York Infantry on 23 August 1862. He was promoted to regimental Sergeant Major He was transferred to the 30th U.S. Colored Troops on 18 March 1864, where he was promoted to first lieutenant and later regimental adjutant on May 1, 1864. It was in this capacity that he performed the act of gallantry on 30 July 1864 that later earned him the Medal of Honor. By 10 December 1865 when Davidson was mustered out of the service, he had been promoted to captain and commander of Company B within his regiment.

After the war he was editor for a local newspaper, the Otsego Republican. He was a companion of the New York Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. He also served as a member of the New York State Senate from 1884 to 1885.[4][5] He died on 10 November 1902 and his remains are interred at the Lakewood Cemetery in New York.

Medal of Honor citation[edit]

One of the first to enter the enemy's works, where, after his colonel, major, and one-third the company officers had fallen, he gallantly assisted in rallying and saving the remnant of the command.[1][2]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Civil War (A-L) Medal of Honor Recipients". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Andrew Davidson". Archived from the original on 2013-12-13. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  3. ^ "U.S. Army Medal of Honor Recipients". Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  4. ^ "Politicians Who Received the Medal of Honor". Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  5. ^ "A One-Name Study for the BARNUM/BARNHAM Surname". Retrieved 7 December 2013.