Remembering George L. Houghton Congressional Medal of Honor American Civil War

While investigating the casualties of the First World War with ties to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, more specifically soldiers' deaths in 1917, the story of George Houghton, born in Yarmouth was discovered. Interestingly, although he died in 1917, he is not a veteran of the First World War. Instead, his story unfolds during a conflict many years prior – the American Civil War. Likely unknown to many of our community, he earned the highest honor in combat, the US Medal of Honor. Name: George L. Houghton Rank: Private Service: Company D, 104th Illinois Infantry Regiment United States Army Awards: US Medal of Honor Date of Birth: August 28, 1841 Place of Birth: Yarmouth, Nova Scotia Date of Enlistment: August 12, 1862 Place of Enlistment: Brookfield, Cook County, Illinois Age at Enlistment: 20 Date of Discharge: June 16, 1865 Age at Discharge: 23 Date of Death: February 25, 1917 Place of Death: Orting, Pierce County, Washington Age at Death: 75 Cemetery: Washington Soldiers Home Cemetery, Orting, Pierce County, Washington George L. Houghton was the son of Rufus Houghton Jr. (1791-1865) and Lucy (Abell) Houghton (1809-1890). His father was born in Rome, Oneida County, New York. His mother was born in Aylmer, Elgin Co., Ontario. George’s father first married Anna Nickerson (1799-1827) in 1822. With her death, Rufus remarried Lucy in 1832. George served during the American Civil War with Company D of the 104th Illinois Infantry Regiment of the United States Army. He served from 1862 to 1865. The Battle of Hartsville was fought on December 7, 1862, in northern Tennessee at the opening of the Stones River Campaign. George’s 104th Illinois Infantry Regiment was overwhelmed and taken as prisoners of war. George and the Regiment were held as Prisoners of War until April of 1863, when they were released as part of an exchange. On release from Camp Douglas in April of 1863, the newly released and reformed 104th Regiment was ordered to Brentwood, Tennessee, then to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and duty there until June 1863. George was awarded the Medal of Honor on July 12, 1863, at Elk River in Tennessee where he voluntarily joined a small party that, under a heavy fire, captured a stockade and saved the Elk River bridge for crossing. On July 2, 1863, while the nation's eyes were on a battle in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Confederate (rebel) troops in a blockhouse guarding a railroad bridge across the Elk River in Tennessee were holding up the advance of Union troops. Sgt. George Marsh of Company D was told by his superiors to pick a squad of volunteers to attempt what seemed a suicide attack across the open and burning bridge. "Many offered to go, but I took the first 10 who stepped forward, and started for the fortification," Marsh later recalled. Amazingly, none of the Company D troops were injured and the blockhouse was captured. "No one who saw us go into the fight expected to see us come out alive, but we did, and without the loss of a man," said Marsh. George Houghton was one of those 10 men. In 1897, the 6 known existing members of the unit received Medals of Honor for the deed. The names of all 10 heroes were clearly set forth in the 1895 regimental history of the 104th Illinois Infantry, but 4 were either dead or believed to be dead. Private Houghton was honored with the award on March 27, 1900. His Medal of Honor Citation reads: The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private George L. Houghton, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 2 July 1863, while serving with Company D, 104th Illinois Infantry, in action at Elk River, Tennessee. Private Hughton voluntarily joined a small party that, under a heavy fire, captured a stockade and saved the bridge. George is one of approximately 24 Canadians awarded the Medal of Honor for actions during the American Civil War. Elk River was far from being the end of the war for George. He took part in many other battles and engagements: George L. Houghton (1841 - 1917) They include the Battle of Chickamauga, in Georgia, September 18 - 20, 1863. It was the most significant Union defeat in the Western Theater of the Civil War and had the second highest number of casualties in the war following the Battle of Gettysburg two months earlier. Despite heavy losses, the Union Army pressed on. George survived this Battle of Chickamauga, and many others, until the war’s end in April of 1865. He was still serving with the 104th when it took part in the Grand Review of the Armies on May 23 and 24, 1865. At 9:00 a.m. on a bright sunny May 23, a signal gun fired a single shot and Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade, the victor of Gettysburg, led the estimated 80,000 men of Army of the Potomac down the streets of Washington from Capitol Hill down Pennsylvania Avenue past crowds that numbered into the thousands. The infantry marched with 12 men across the road, followed by the divisional and corps artillery, then an array of cavalry regiments that stretched for another seven miles. The mood was one of gaiety and celebration, and the crowds and soldiers frequently engaged in singing patriotic songs as the procession of victorious soldiers snaked its way towards the reviewing stand in front of the White House, where United States President Andrew Johnson, Commanding General Ulysses S. Grant, senior military leaders, the Cabinet, and leading government officials awaited. At the head of his troops, Meade dismounted when he arrived at the reviewing stand and joined the dignitaries to salute his men, who passed for over six hours. Just under a month later, George mustered out of the Army in June of 1865. Later in life, George married Mrs. Emma L. Roberts (b. 1847) on July 20, 1898, at Woodstock, Minnesota. They eventually settled in Orting in Pierce Co., Washington, where George died and was laid to rest at the Washington Soldiers Home Cemetery in Orting.

Sources: Congressional Medal of Honor Society – Stories of Sacrifice findagrave Wikipedia - George L. Houghton