John Vale
Encyclopedia
John Vale was a member of the Union Army
during the American Civil War
. He received the Medal of Honor
in 1897 for his bravery on February 15, 1863 at Nolensville, Tennessee
.
, England
, Vale grew up in the city and was employed as a store clerk at the age of 13. In 1851 he immigrated to Le Claire, Iowa
, and found employment in a sawmill. He moved to farmland he purchased near Mapleton, Minnesota
in 1856. He was there when the Civil War started.
at Rochester, Minnesota
on July 15, 1861. Sixteen members from Company H, of which he was a member, were foraging near the town of Nolensville, Tennessee
on February 15, 1863. Vale, then a Private
, was assigned to picket duty. He watched for the Confederates
as others searched farm buildings. He warned the others as 125 Confederate cavalry attacked the small detachment of Union soldiers. The Union soldiers moved to a log building for cover and returned fire. The 1st East-Tennessee Cavalry drove the confederates off. Three Union soldiers were wounded, while five Confederates were wounded. Four of the Confederate’s horses were killed, three horses were captured, and they also lost seven saddles and three guns.
Vale was later promoted to Corporal
and then to Sergeant
. He re-enlisted as a Veteran Volunteer on December 15, 1863, and was discarged from the army on July 11, 1865.
and initially farmed there. He was appointed as the chief mailing clerk for the Davenport
post office in 1873 and worked there for the next 26 years.
Vale married May Middleton in 1881, and she died two years later. In 1888 he married Margaret J. Peters, and they raised two children.
He was a member of various lodges and active in the Grand Army of the Republic
. After he retired in 1899 he remained in Davenport. He died February 4, 1909, and was buried in Oakdale Cemetery
.
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...
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...
. He 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...
in 1897 for his bravery on February 15, 1863 at Nolensville, Tennessee
Nolensville, Tennessee
Nolensville is a town in Williamson County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 3,099 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Nolensville is located at ....
.
Early life
Born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Vale grew up in the city and was employed as a store clerk at the age of 13. In 1851 he immigrated to Le Claire, Iowa
Le Claire, Iowa
Le Claire is a city in Scott County, Iowa, United States. The population was 3,765 in the 2010 census, an increase from 2,847 in the 2000 census. Le Claire is part of the Quad Cities Metropolitan Area.- History :...
, and found employment in a sawmill. He moved to farmland he purchased near Mapleton, Minnesota
Mapleton, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,678 people, 637 households, and 443 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,117.8 people per square mile . There were 656 housing units at an average density of 437.0 per square mile...
in 1856. He was there when the Civil War started.
Military Service
Vale enlisted in the 2nd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry2nd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry
The 2nd Minnesota Regiment Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 2nd Minnesota Infantry was organized at Fort Snelling, Minnesota and mustered in by companies for three years service beginning June 26, 1861 under the...
at Rochester, Minnesota
Rochester, Minnesota
Rochester is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Olmsted County. Located on both banks of the Zumbro River, The city has a population of 106,769 according to the 2010 United States Census, making it Minnesota's third-largest city and the largest outside of the...
on July 15, 1861. Sixteen members from Company H, of which he was a member, were foraging near the town of Nolensville, Tennessee
Nolensville, Tennessee
Nolensville is a town in Williamson County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 3,099 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Nolensville is located at ....
on February 15, 1863. Vale, then 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...
, was assigned to picket duty. He watched for the Confederates
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...
as others searched farm buildings. He warned the others as 125 Confederate cavalry attacked the small detachment of Union soldiers. The Union soldiers moved to a log building for cover and returned fire. The 1st East-Tennessee Cavalry drove the confederates off. Three Union soldiers were wounded, while five Confederates were wounded. Four of the Confederate’s horses were killed, three horses were captured, and they also lost seven saddles and three guns.
Vale was later promoted to Corporal
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
and then to Sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
. He re-enlisted as a Veteran Volunteer on December 15, 1863, and was discarged from the army on July 11, 1865.
Later life & Death
After the war, Vale returned to the Rochester area. In 1869 he returned to Scott County, IowaScott County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 165,224 in the county, with a population density of . There were 71,835 housing units, of which 66,765 were occupied.-2000 census:...
and initially farmed there. He was appointed as the chief mailing clerk for the Davenport
Davenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
post office in 1873 and worked there for the next 26 years.
Vale married May Middleton in 1881, and she died two years later. In 1888 he married Margaret J. Peters, and they raised two children.
He was a member of various lodges and active in the Grand Army of the Republic
Grand Army of the Republic
The Grand Army of the Republic was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army, US Navy, US Marines and US Revenue Cutter Service who served in the American Civil War. Founded in 1866 in Decatur, Illinois, it was dissolved in 1956 when its last member died...
. After he retired in 1899 he remained in Davenport. He died February 4, 1909, and was buried in Oakdale Cemetery
Oakdale Memorial Gardens
Oakdale Memorial Gardens, formerly Oakdale Cemetery, is located in east-central Davenport, Iowa, United States. It was established in 1856 and designed by Captain George F. de la Roche, who had finished the design of Oak Hill Cemetery in Washington, D.C. five years earlier. It is considered a...
.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and Organization: Private, Company H, 2d Minnesota Infantry. Place and Date: At Nolensville, Tenn., 15 February 1863. Entered Service At: Rochester, Minn. Birth: England. Date Of Issue: 11 September 1897.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.