Musician George Palmer, Medal of Honor

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7836844/george-henry-palmer

Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. He began his Civil War service when he enlisted in the 1st Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, and was mustered in as a Private and Bugler in Company G on April 24, 1861. He would go on to serve at the September 20, 1861 Battle of Lexington, Missouri, where his bravery that day would see him awarded the CMOH. His citation for the award reads "Volunteered to fight in the trenches and also led a charge which resulted in the recapture of a Union hospital, together with Confederate sharpshooters then occupying the same". His Medal was issued to him on March 20, 1896. He was mustered out of the 1st Illinois Cavalry on October 9, 1861, but rejoined the Union war effort the next year, when he received a commission of 1st Lieutenant in Company A, 83rd Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Promoted to Captain and commander of the company on February 3, 1863, he served through the end of the war, and was honorably mustered out on June 26, 1865 at Nashville, Tennessee. On January 22, 1867 he enlisted in the Regular Army, and was commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant in the 27th United States Infantry. Transferred to the 16th United States Infantry on December 15, 1870, he received a promotion to Captain on March 20, 1885. Promoted once more to Major, 4th United States Infantry on January 11, 1899, he was retired on February 27, 1899. His son, Bruce Palmer Sr,, served in the United States Army, rising to Brigadier General. His grandson, Bruce Palmer Jr, also served in the United States Army, rising to four-star General, and serving in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Musician George Henry Palmer, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 20 September 1861, while serving with 1st Illinois Cavalry, in action at Lexington, Missouri. Musician Palmer volunteered to fight in the trenches and also led a charge which resulted in the recapture of a Union hospital, together with Confederate sharpshooters then occupying the same.

General Orders: Date of Issue: March 10, 1896

Action Date: September 20, 1861

Service: Army

Rank: Musician

Division: 1st Illinois Cavalry

http://www.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?...

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/97164493/george-henry-palmer

Son of George Washington Palmer and Amanda Malvina Harding Clark Palmer

Married to Julia Estelle Hoban,
July 22, 1866 in Utica, New York

Bio by Russ Dodge:

Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. He began his Civil War service when he enlisted in the 1st Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, and was mustered in as a Private and Bugler in Company G on April 24, 1861. He served at the September 20, 1861 Battle of Lexington, Missouri, where his bravery that day would see him awarded the CMOH. His citation for the award "Volunteered to fight in the trenches and also led a charge which resulted in the recapture of a Union hospital, together with Confederate sharpshooters then occupying the same". His Medal was issued to him on March 20, 1896. He was mustered out of the 1st Illinois Cavalry on October 9,1861, but rejoined the Union War effort the next year, when he received a commission of 1st Lieutenant in Company A, 83rd Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Promoted to Captain and commander of the company on February 3, 1863, he served through the end of the war, and was honorably mustered out on June 26, 1865 at Nashville, Tennessee. On January 22, 1867, he enlisted in the Regular Army, and was commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant in the 27th United States Infantry. Transferred to the 16th United States Infantry on December 15, 1870, he received a promotion to Captain on March 20, 1885, Promoted once more to Major, 4th United States Infantry on January 11, 1899. He was retired on February 27, 1899.

There is also a memorial for him in Arlington Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

George Henry Palmer of New York.
Bugler, Troop G, 1st Illinois Cavalry, 24 April to 9 October 1861
First Lieutenant, 83rd Illinois Infantry, 21 August 1862
Captain, 4 February 1863
Honorably mustered out 26 June 1865
Second Lieutenant, 27th U. S. Infantry, 22 January 1867
Unsassigned, 14 June 1869
Assigned to 16th U. S. Infantry 15 December 1870
Captain, 20 March 1885
Major, 4th U. S. Infantry, 11 January 1899
Retired 27 February 1899

Awarded Medal of Honor, 10 March 1896, for most distinguished gallantry in action at the battle of Lexington, Missouri, 18, 19 and 20 September 1861, volunteering to fight in the trenches and also leading a charge which resulted in the recapture of a Union hospital together with the capture of rebels then occupying the same while serving as bugler, Company G, 1st Illinois Cavalry Volunteers.

Died 7 April 1907

He earned the Medal of Honor while serving in the Civil War as a Musician with the 1st Illinois Volunteer Cavalry at Lexington, Missouri, on September 20, 1861. The Medal was actually presentled to him on March 10, 1896.

Palmer remained in the Army, serving long and hard with the 4th United States Infantry. On his death in 1901 he was buried with honors in Arlington National Cemetery.

His son Bruce Palmer, Brigadier General, United States Army, and his grandson, Bruce Palmer, Jr., General, United States Army, also both buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

PALMER, GEORGE H.

Rank and organization: Musician, 1st Illinois Cavalry. Place and date. At Lexington, Missouri, 20 September 1861. Entered service at: Illinois. Birth: New York. Date of issue. 10 March 1896.

Citation:

Volunteered to fight in the trenches and also led a charge which resulted in the recapture of a Union hospital, together with Confederate sharpshooters then occupying the same.