Milton Hanna

Milton Hanna (January 12, 1842 – January 21, 1913) was an American soldier who served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Hanna and 8 others from his company received the Medal of Honor for actions taken on February 15, 1863 during a skirmish with Confederate cavalry in Nolensville, Tennessee.

Early life Hanna was born in Etna Township, Ohio on January 12, 1842 to parents James Hanna and Nancy (nee: Bowden) Hanna. On May 13, 1853, his family moved to Minnesota Territory and settled in what is now Mankato, Minnesota in Blue Earth County. He was enrolled into the ranks of Company H of the 2nd Minnesota Infantry Regiment and fought with the regiment at the Battle of Mill Springs, the Battle of Shiloh, the Siege of Corinth, the Battle of Perryville, and the Battle of Stones River.

Skirmish at Nolensville Following Stones River on February 15, 1863, Hanna and 14 other soldiers of Company H of the 2nd Minnesota along with a 10-team wagon train were detailed to search the countryside near Nolensville, Tennessee for feed for the company's mules, under the command of then-Sergeant Lovilo N. Holmes.

The detachment stopped at a plantation to load corn from a corn crib into their wagons when they were suddenly attacked by a Confederate cavalry force of 125 mounted soldiers of the 6th Alabama Cavalry Regiment. the recipients were Burger, Clark, Flannigan, Hanna, Holmes, Pay, Vale, and Wright. He served the rest of his re-enlistment with the 2nd Minnesota and later took part in the Grand Review of the Armies before being mustered out of service with the rest of the regiment on July 11, 1865 in Louisville, Kentucky.

Medal of Honor citation Hanna's 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 Corporal Milton Hanna, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 15 February 1863, while serving with Company H, 2d Minnesota Infantry, in action at Nolensville, Tennessee. Corporal Hanna was one of a detachment of 16 men who heroically defended a wagon train against the attack of 125 cavalry, repulsed the attack and saved the train".

Personal life and death Hanna was married to Louise N. Purrier on November 1, 1869, and together they had two children. at the Minnehaha Soldiers' Home in Minneapolis.