John Schiller
Encyclopedia
John Schilling was an enlisted soldier in the U.S. Army during the American Civil War
. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Chaffin's Farm
on September 29, 1864.
in August 1862. Assigned to the Union XVIII Corps, the regiment lost during service two officers and 45 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 83 enlisted men by disease.
At the Battle of Chaffin's Farm, Private Schiller led a Union infantry advance into the Confederate trench works. His actions in this battle resulted in the awarding of the Medal of Honor.
Schiller died at age 96 and was buried at Cypress Hills National Cemetery
in Brooklyn.
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 received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Chaffin's Farm
Battle of Chaffin's Farm
The Battle of Chaffin's Farm and New Market Heights, also known as Laurel Hill and combats at Forts Harrison, Johnson, and Gilmer, was fought September 29–30, 1864, as part of the Siege of Petersburg in the American Civil War.-Background:...
on September 29, 1864.
Military service
Emigrating from his native Germany, his surname was originally Schilling. He volunteered for service with the 158th regiment of New York Infantry, part of the Empire-Spinola Brigade which was organized in BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
in August 1862. Assigned to the Union XVIII Corps, the regiment lost during service two officers and 45 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 83 enlisted men by disease.
At the Battle of Chaffin's Farm, Private Schiller led a Union infantry advance into the Confederate trench works. His actions in this battle resulted in the awarding of the Medal of Honor.
Schiller died at age 96 and was buried at Cypress Hills National Cemetery
Cypress Hills National Cemetery
Cypress Hills National Cemetery is the only United States National Cemetery in New York City and has more than 21,100 interments of veterans and civilians. There are 24 Medal of Honor recipients buried in the cemetery, including three men who won the award twice...
in Brooklyn.
Medal of Honor citation
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private John Schiller, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 29 September 1864, while serving with Company E, 158th New York Infantry, in action at Chaffin's Farm, Virginia. Private Schiller advanced to the ditch of the enemy's works.