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.
- 2nd Lt William B. Avery, 1st New York Marine Artillery
- Sgt. William J. Babcock, 2nd Rhode Island Infantry
- Cpl. James A. Barber, 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery, Battery G
- Cpt. George N. Bliss, 1st Rhode Island Cavalry
- Col. Zenas R. Bliss, 7th Rhode Island Infantry
- 1st Lt. John K. Bucklyn, 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery, Battery E
- Sgt. James H. Burbank, 4th Rhode Island Infantry
- Cpl. Benjamin H. Child, 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery, Battery A
- Pvt. John Corcoran, 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery, Battery G
- Cpt. James M. Cutts, 11th US Infantry
- Captain of The Top (Petty Officer) John Edwards, USS Lackawanna
- Pvt. Charles D. Ennis, 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery, Battery G
- Sgt. John H. Havron, 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery, Battery G
- Coxswain Thomas Hayes, USS Richmond
- Cpl. Samuel E. Lewis, 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery, Battery G
- Pvt. George E. McDonald, 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery
- Sgt. Archibald Molbone, 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery, Battery G
- Cpl. Thomas Parker, 2nd Rhode Island Infantry
- Pvt. George W. Potter, 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery, Battery G
- Seaman George E. Read, USS Kearsarge
- Cpl. Joseph Taylor, 7th Rhode Island Infantry
- Pvt. James Welsh, 4th Rhode Island Infantry
Thank you to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society for the above information.
Rhode Island Department 