John Tweedale

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private John Tweedale, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 31 December 1862 & 1 January 1863, while serving with Company B, 15th Pennsylvania Cavalry, in action at Stone River, Tennessee, for gallantry in action.

General Orders: Date of Issue: November 18, 1887

Action Date: December 31, 1862 & January 1, 1863

Service: Army

Rank: Private

Company: Company B

Division: 15th Pennsylvania Cavalry

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Private John Tweedale was awarded the Medal of Honor as a Private in Company B, 15th Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry for his display of extraordinary heroism in action at the Battle of Stones River, Tennessee, December 31, 1862 to January 1, 1863. (As best as I can surmise, Tweesdale and three other men were involved in the capture of the colors of the 3rd Alabama Cavalry while taking part in two mounted saber charges late on the first day of the Battle of Stones River, resulting in a brigade of Confederate cavalry being driven from the field; finding a more definitive account has proven elusive possibly because a number of Anderson cavalrymen engaged in a mutiny and refused to take part in the fight). The medal was not awarded to him until November 18, 1887. After the war, he was commissioned an officer in the Regular Army, later served as Chief Clerk of the War Department, and retired a Colonel on June 10, 1905. He died at age 79 in Washington D.C.