John Donaldson earned Medal Of Honor during the Civil War
Army Sgt. John Preston Donaldson of Butler, a Commissary Sergeant during the Civil War, was at the Village of Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865, when Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered his army to Union Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant.
The actions of that day precipitated the end of the bloodiest conflict in American history.
As Commissary Sergeant, Donaldson served as a non-commissioned officer. He managed a unit's food and provisions, and was responsible for receiving rations, weighing and distributing them to companies. In addition to overseeing food for his fellow servicemen, Donaldson also made sure that the horses were fed. While the role was logistical, commissary sergeants did display bravery. Future President William McKinley was one, and he risked his own safety delivering food under fire to soldiers in active battle fields.
It’s uncertain what Donaldson exactly did during the Battle of Appomattox Court House; however, he served on that day and received the Medal of Honor for capturing the Confederate flag of the 4th Virginia Cavalry (Confederate States of America). His citation specifically mentions “extraordinary heroism.”
Michael Kraus, Curator of Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum in Pittsburgh, said the Medal of Honor was the first of its kind, and there wasn’t yet a strict set of guidelines as to how servicemen earned the prize.
“It wasn’t defined,” he said. “You could have wrestled a flag away from an enemy.”
Of the 3,464 Medals of Honor awarded to date, 1,522 were awarded during the American Civil War. The legacy of the Medal of Honor has its own unique tapestry.
Donaldson was recruited by Captain Rev. W. R. Hutchinson (also spelled “Hutchison”) on Aug. 30, 1864. This was only about two weeks after Donaldson’s 23rd birthday. Hutchinson was sent north to Butler in 1862 and oversaw the Pennsylvania Militia is the region. Donaldson and 15 others (many from Butler) were recruited in Allegheny City, now Pittsburgh’s North Side. They organized at Camp Reynolds in Greenville, Mercer County on Sept. 5, as Company A, 6th Pennsylvania regiment and Heavy Artillery. Over the next several weeks, they traveled to Alexandria, Va., arriving Nov.15. The march and travels were grueling. Two recruits perished on the way to Virginia.
Donaldson and the rest of the Heavy Artillery regiment were under the supervision of Col. Charles Asahel Barnes, who had previously served first as Major of the 9th Pennsylvania Reserves. On April 8, Donaldson was with Company L, a component of the 4th Pennsylvania Cavalry also known as the 64th Pennsylvania Volunteers.
Donaldson captured the flag 4th Virginia Cavalry and was one of seven soldiers to receive the Medal of Honor at the Battle of Appomattox, said Kraus. Five of the men were from Western Pennsylvania.
Soldiers and Sailors Hall and Museum has one of the medals from Appomattox. The family of Charles Higby of New Brighton, Beaver County donated the award about 20 years ago. Kraus said that they also have a banner with Donaldson’s information; however, some of it is incorrect. The location of Donaldson’s medal is lost, perhaps it’s now a descendant.
Kraus points to a photograph in the Crysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Virginia entitled, “General John Gibbon Transporting Captured Colors of the Army of Northern Virginia to Washington.” The photograph from the David L. Hack Collection is a rare glimpse of Civil War soldiers from May 1, 1865. Kraus says Gibbon was responsible for gathering captured flags and transporting them to the War Department. Donaldson may be among the 17 men in the photo as he was among those who received their medal on May 3, 1865.
“It was unusual that he went to Washington,” said Kraus.
It was the end of the war, so the soldiers might have looked forward to the ceremony. Gen. Philip Sheridan’s cavalry pursued Gen. Robert E. Lee and was instrumental in forcing his surrender at Appomattox Courthouse. While described as an award presented by the President himself, Sheridan may have distributed the Medal of Honors to Donaldson and the other soldiers.
The Battle of Appomattox Court House occurred on April 9, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated six days later, ushering in Andrew Johnson’s administration. The Civil War officially came to an end on May 26, 1865, and the regiment was disbanded on June 17, 1865.
After the Civil War, Donaldson relocated to Ottumwa, in Wapello County in Iowa, and married Susan Emeline Donaldson. Together they had a large family with daughters Sarah E. Donaldson; Della Francis Donaldson; Sylvia Musselman, Cora C. Donaldson; as well as sons John Fuller Donaldson; Ralph William Donaldson; Homer I. Donaldson; Russell Long Donaldson; Harry B. Donaldson and Gilbert Perry Donaldson.
Donaldson died on January 7, 1920, in Dubuque, Iowa, and his remains are interred at the Mars Hill Cemetery in Ottumwa, Iowa. He was 77.
