John G. Merritt

John G. Merritt (October 31, 1837 – December 17, 1892) was an American soldier who served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Merritt received the Medal of Honor for actions taken during the First Battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1861, wherein Merritt was wounded while capturing a Rebel flag ahead of his regiment. Merritt was one of eleven total soldiers and one civilian surgeon, Mary Edwards Walker, who received the Medal of Honor for their actions during the battle.

Military service

Merritt was born in New York City on October 31, 1837. At the outbreak of the American Civil War Merritt volunteered for service in the Union Army and was mustered into the ranks of Company K of the 1st Minnesota Infantry Regiment, nicknamed the "Winona Volunteers", on April 29, 1861. According to the book History of Winona County the company consisted of "one captain, two lieutenants, five sergeants, eight corporals, eighty-two privates, one drummer, one fifer, and one teamster". According to the book Deeds of Valor: How American Heroes Won the Medal of Honor Merritt had permission to select three other men from his company in order to attempt to capture a Confederate regiment's flag.

Later service Merritt served the remainder of his enlistment with the rest of the regiment and was discharged with the rest of the regiment on April 2, 1864, at Fort Snelling, although some volunteers chose to reenlist and were folded into the 1st Minnesota Infantry Battalion.

Medal of Honor citation Merritt's April 1, 1880 Medal of Honor citation states the following:"The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Sergeant John G. Merritt, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 21 July 1861, while serving with Company K, 1st Minnesota Infantry, in action at Bull Run, Virginia, for gallantry in action; was wounded while capturing flag in advance of his regiment". Merritt died on December 17, 1892, and is buried in the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C.