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Rhode Island Medal of Honor Recipients from the American Civil War

Army Civil War Medal of Honor on display onboard the USS Massachusetts at Battleship Cove in Fall River, MA

The Congressional Medal of Honor was established on 21 Dec 1861 when President Abraham Lincoln signed a law authorizing the Medal of Honor to be created for Naval and Marine Corps personnel that showed gallantry in action. The following year, on 12 July 1862, President Lincoln signed a similar bill establishing the Medal of Honor for those who served in the Army. The first Medal of Honor was issued on 25 March 1863 to Pvt. Jacob Parrot of the 33rd Ohio. During the American Civil War, Rhode Island sent over 23,000 servicemen to fight in various capacities, of those, 22 received the Medal of Honor.

Thank you to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society for the above information.

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