John Michael Tobin
Encyclopedia
John Michael Tobin was an officer in the Union Army
who received the Medal of Honor
for his actions at the Battle of Malvern Hill
during the American Civil War
.
At the outbreak of the Civil War
, he enlisted as a Private
in the 1st Vermont Volunteer Cavalry
. He would participate in all of his units battles in the Virginia Theatre, and would rise to Colonel
and commander of the regiment. While a major
during the Battle of Gettysburg
, he led his men in General Judson Kilpatrick
's foolish cavalry
charge against Confederate
lines at the tail end of the Battle. For his bravery in this action he would receive the Medal of Honor 28 years later. He commanded a detachment of cavalry in the failed and controversial Dahlgren Raid
on Richmond
in March 1864, and became the 1st Vermont's commander in June 1864 following the death in battle of its previous Colonel. During the fighting led by General Phil Sheridan
, he commanded a brigade of cavalry in the Shenandoah Valley
and at the 3rd Battle of Winchester
and Cedar Creek
. He was still in command of his brigade at the conclusion of the Appomattox Campaign
. After being brevetted Brigadier General
and Major General
, US Volunteers, he was promoted on May 19, 1865 to full rank Brigadier General, US Volunteers. He was mustered out of Army service in 1866. His Medal of Honor was issued on September 9, 1891. On July 3, 1913 a statue of him was dedicated in the Gettysburg National Military Park
, and it stands today on the South Confederate Avenue, near Plum Run.
He is buried in Mount Auburn Cemetery, Middlesex County, Cambridge, Massachusetts, on the Chestnut Path, Lot 1049.
Citation:
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...
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 at the Battle of Malvern Hill
Battle of Malvern Hill
The Battle of Malvern Hill, also known as the Battle of Poindexter's Farm, took place on July 1, 1862, in Henrico County, Virginia, on the seventh and last day of the Seven Days Battles of the American Civil War. Gen. Robert E. Lee launched a series of disjointed assaults on the nearly impregnable...
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
John Tobin was born in Ireland in 1841 and he entered service from Boston Massachusetts.At the outbreak of the 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...
, he enlisted as a Private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
in the 1st Vermont Volunteer Cavalry
1st Vermont Cavalry
The 1st Regiment, Vermont Volunteer Cavalry was a three years' cavalry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served in the Eastern Theater from November 1861 to August 1865, in the Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac....
. He would participate in all of his units battles in the Virginia Theatre, and would rise to Colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
and commander of the regiment. While a major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
during the Battle of Gettysburg
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg , was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War, it is often described as the war's turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade's Army of the Potomac...
, he led his men in General Judson Kilpatrick
Hugh Judson Kilpatrick
Hugh Judson Kilpatrick was an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War, achieving the rank of brevet major general. He was later the United States Minister to Chile, and a failed political candidate for the U.S...
's foolish cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
charge against Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
lines at the tail end of the Battle. For his bravery in this action he would receive the Medal of Honor 28 years later. He commanded a detachment of cavalry in the failed and controversial Dahlgren Raid
Battle of Walkerton
The Battle of Walkerton was an engagement of the American Civil War. It occurred March 2, 1864, in Walkerton, King and Queen County, Virginia during the campaign known as the Kilpatrick-Dahlgren Raid or the Dahlgren Affair....
on Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
in March 1864, and became the 1st Vermont's commander in June 1864 following the death in battle of its previous Colonel. During the fighting led by General Phil Sheridan
Philip Sheridan
Philip Henry Sheridan was a career United States Army officer and a Union general in the American Civil War. His career was noted for his rapid rise to major general and his close association with Lt. Gen. Ulysses S...
, he commanded a brigade of cavalry in the Shenandoah Valley
Shenandoah Valley
The Shenandoah Valley is both a geographic valley and cultural region of western Virginia and West Virginia in the United States. The valley is bounded to the east by the Blue Ridge Mountains, to the west by the eastern front of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians , to the north by the Potomac River...
and at the 3rd Battle of Winchester
Battle of Opequon
The Battle of Opequon, more commonly known as the Third Battle of Winchester, was fought in Winchester, Virginia, on September 19, 1864, during the Valley Campaigns of 1864 in the American Civil War....
and Cedar Creek
Battle of Cedar Creek
The Battle of Cedar Creek, or Battle of Belle Grove, October 19, 1864, was one of the final, and most decisive, battles in the Valley Campaigns of 1864 during the American Civil War. The final Confederate invasion of the North, led by Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early, was effectively ended...
. He was still in command of his brigade at the conclusion of the Appomattox Campaign
Appomattox Campaign
The Appomattox Campaign was a series of battles fought March 29 – April 9, 1865, in Virginia that culminated in the surrender of Confederate General Robert E...
. After being brevetted Brigadier General
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
and Major General
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
, US Volunteers, he was promoted on May 19, 1865 to full rank Brigadier General, US Volunteers. He was mustered out of Army service in 1866. His Medal of Honor was issued on September 9, 1891. On July 3, 1913 a statue of him was dedicated in the Gettysburg National Military Park
Gettysburg National Military Park
The Gettysburg National Military Park is an administrative unit of the National Park Service's northeast region and a subunit of federal properties of Adams County, Pennsylvania, with the same name, including the Gettysburg National Cemetery...
, and it stands today on the South Confederate Avenue, near Plum Run.
He is buried in Mount Auburn Cemetery, Middlesex County, Cambridge, Massachusetts, on the Chestnut Path, Lot 1049.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant and Adjutant, 9th Massachusetts Infantry. Place and date: At Malvern Hill, Va., July 1, 1862. Entered service at: Boston, Mass. Birth: Ireland. Date of issue: March 11, 1896.Citation:
Voluntarily took command of the 9th Massachusetts while adjutant, bravely fighting from 3 p.m. until dusk, rallying and re_forming the regiment under fire; twice picked up the regimental flag, the color bearer having been shot down, and placed it in worthy hands.