Bruce Anderson, Pvt. (USA)

Bruce Anderson (June 19, 1845 – August 22, 1922) was a Union Army soldier in the American Civil War and a recipient of America's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the Second Battle of Fort Fisher.

After working as a farmer in New York Anderson joined the military to fight in the Civil War and volunteered with a group of other soldiers to elminate a palisade that was blocking the advance of his unit. After completing the mission and destroying the palasade, Anderson and twelve others were recommended for the Medal of Honor but the paperwork was lost. Anderson hired an attorney to get the Medal and he and 2 other soldiers received it in 1914.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Private, Company K, 142d New York Infantry. Place and date: At Fort Fisher, N.C., January 15, 1865. Entered service at: Ephratah, N.Y.[n 2] Born: Mexico, Oswego County, N.Y., June 9, 1845. Date of issue: December 28, 1914.

Citation:

Voluntarily advanced with the head of the column and cut down the palisading