George Mason Lovering

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George Mason Lovering
January 10, 1832 - April 2, 1919
Place of birth	Springfield, New Hampshire
Place of death	Lewiston, Maine
Allegiance	Union Army
Battles/wars	American Civil War
Awards	Medal of Honor

George Mason Lovering (January 10, 1832 – April 2, 1919) was a Union Army soldier who was awarded the Medal of Honor for meritorious service during the American Civil War.

He was born to James and Catherine Lovering on January 10, 1832, in Springfield, New Hampshire. The family soon moved to East Randolph (now Holbrook, Massachusetts), and George eventually joined the Randolph Light Infantry, a militia unit that was called into active service at the start of the Civil War. He served as First Sergeant in Company I of the 4th Massachusetts Infantry. On June 14, 1863, Lovering took part in the Siege of Port Hudson, a Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River. His courage in this battle resulted in Lovering being awarded a Medal of Honor in 1891, the only such recipient from Holbrook.

His citation reads: During a momentary confusion in the ranks caused by other troops rushing upon the regiment, this soldier, with coolness and determination, rendered efficient aid in preventing a panic among the troops.

Lovering was commissioned as a First Lieutenant in the renamed 75th Regiment of U.S. Colored Troops, which was formed from the 3rd Infantry Corps d'Afrique. He participated in the Red River Campaign, then served in the bayous of Louisiana until he was mustered out in 1865.

He eventually moved to Maine, spending his final years living at a veterans home. He died at the age of 87 at St. Mary's Hospital in Lewiston, Maine. He is buried in Union Cemetery in Holbrook.