SGT. KELLY, ALEXANDER
Rank and Organization: First Sergeant, Company F, 6th U.S. Colored Troops. Place and Date: At Chapins Farm, Va., 29 September 1864.
Birth: Pennsylvania. Date of Issue: 6 April 1865. Citation: Gallantly seized the colors, which had fallen near the enemy's lines, raised them and rallied the men at a time of confusion and in a place of the greatest danger. Died: June 19, 1907
BURIED: Saint Peters Cemetery
Pittsburgh
Allegheny County
Pennsylvania, USA
Plot: Division 3, Grave 13 ~

SGT. FLEETWOOD, CHRISTIAN A.
Rank and Organization: Sergeant Major, 4th U.S. Colored Troops,
Place and Date: At Chapins Farm, Va., 29 September 1864.
Birth: Baltimore, Md.
Date of Issue: 6 April 1865.
Citation: Seized the colors, after 2 color bearers had been shot down, and bore them nobly through the fight.

Sergeant Major, 4th U.S. Colored Troops. Born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1840, Fleetwood entered service in Baltimore on August 11, 1863. He saw action on September 29, 1864 at Chaffin's Farm Fort Harrison, VA.

His citation stated that he "seized the colors, after two color bearers had been shot down, and bore them nobly through the fight." Christian Fleetwood was a 23-year-old clerk when he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He stood 5'4 tall. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant Major on August 19, 1863.

Fleetwood described the act which won him the Medal of Honor as follows: "Saved the regimental colors after eleven of the twelve color guards had been shot down around it." The rank of Sergeant Major was at the time the highest rank a black soldier could attain in the U.S. Army. Died: 1914

BURIED: Harmony Memorial Park
Landover
Prince George's County
Maryland

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PVT. GARDINER, JAMES
Rank and Organization: Private, Company I, 6th U.S. Colored Troops.
Place and Date: At Chapins Farm, Va., 29 September 1864. Birth: Gloucester, Va. Date of Issue: 6 April 1865.
Citation: Rushed in advance of his brigade, shot a rebel officer who was on the parapet rallying his men, and then ran him through with his bayonet.

SGT. HAWKINS, THOMAS R.
Rank and Organization: Sergeant Major, 6th U.S. Colored Troops.
Place and Date: At Chapins Farm, Va., 29 September 1864.
Entered Service At: Philadelphia, Pa.
Birth: Cincinnati, Ohio.
Date of Issue: 8 February 1870.
Citation: Rescue of regimental colors.

Sergeant Major, 6th U.S. Colored Troops. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Thomas R. Hawkins entered service in Philadelphia, PA. He saw action at Chaffin's Farm in Fort Harrison, VA on September 29, 1864. His citation read the that he rescued the regimental colors. The Medal of Honor was presented on February 8, 1870. Died: 1870

BURIED: Harmony Memorial Park
Landover
Prince George's County
Maryland
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SGT. BEATY, POWHATAN
Rank and Organization: First Sergeant, Company G, 5th U.S. Colored Troops.
Place and Date: At Chapins Farm, Va., 29 September 1864.
Entered Service At: Delaware County, Ohio.
Birth: Richmond, Va.
Date of Issue: 6 April 1865.
Citation: Took command of his company, all the officers having been killed or wounded, and gallantly led it. Died: Dec. 6, 1916.

Thirty soldiers of the Union Army were awarded Medals of Honor for their heroism in battle against the Confederate forces during the September 29, 1864, battle at Chapin's Farm, Virginia. First Sergeant Powhatan Beaty earned the Medal of Honor for taking command of his company and valiantly leading it in the battle after all the officers of his company had been killed or wounded.

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U.S. Colored Troops and Sailor Awarded Medal of Honor

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