James H. Robinson was a Union Army

Union Army

The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...

 soldier who received the Medal of Honor

Medal of Honor

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...

 for his actions during the American Civil War

American Civil War

The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...

.

Biography

A resident of Victor Township, Michigan

Victor Township, Michigan

Victor Township is a civil township of Clinton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,275 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...

, Robinson enlisted at the age of 18 in the 3rd Michigan Volunteer Cavalry Regiment

3rd Michigan Volunteer Cavalry Regiment

The 3rd Regiment Michigan Volunteer Cavalry was an cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 3rd Michigan Cavalry was organized at Grand Rapids, Michigan between August 24 and November 28, 1861.Private James H...

, and was mustered in as a Private in Company B. On January 27, 1864 at Brownsville, Arkansas, he performed an act of bravery, single-handedly defending himself against a party of seven enemy guerrillas and killing their leader, that garnered him the Medal of Honor.

Private Robinson received the Medal of Honor on April 4, 1864.

He was later killed in action during the war, and his remains were eventually buried in the Memphis National Cemetery

Memphis National Cemetery

Memphis National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located in the Nutbush neighborhood of the City of Memphis, in Shelby County, Tennessee...

, Memphis, Tennessee

Memphis, Tennessee

Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....

, where they can be found in Section H, Grave 4131. His gravesite is marked with a government issue Medal of Honor marker.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and Organization:

Private, Company B, 3d Michigan Cavalry. Place and date: At Brownsville, Ark., January 27, 1864. Entered service at: Victor, Mich. Birth. Oakland County, Mich. Date of issue: April 4, 1864.

Citation:

Successfully defended himself, single-handed against seven guerrillas, killing the leader (Capt. W. C. Stephenson) and driving off the remainder of the party.

See also

• List of Medal of Honor recipients
• List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: Q–S