Eri Davidson Woodbury

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Sergeant Eri Davidson Woodbury, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 19 October 1864, while serving with Company E, 1st Vermont Cavalry, in action at Cedar Creek, Virginia. During the regiment's charge when the enemy was in retreat Sergeant Woodbury encountered four Confederate infantrymen retreating. He drew his saber and ordered them to surrender, overcoming by his determined actions their willingness to further resist. They surrendered to him together with their rifles and 12th North Carolina (Confederate States of America) regimental flag.

General Orders: Date of Issue: October 26, 1864

Action Date: October 19, 1864

Service: Army

Rank: Sergeant

Company: Company E

Division: 1st Vermont Cavalry

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eri_D._Woodbury

Eri Davidson Woodbury (May 30, 1837 – April 14, 1928) was a Union Army officer during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the Battle of Cedar Creek fought near Middletown, Virginia on October 19, 1864. The battle was the decisive engagement of Major General Philip Sheridan’s Valley Campaigns of 1864 and was the largest battle fought in the Shenandoah Valley.

Woodbury graduated from Dartmouth College in 1863, and enlisted in the army in December of that year. After the war, he taught at Cheshire Academy for 38 years, eventually becoming its principal.