James Daniel Gardner

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

James Daniel Gardner
16 September 1839 – 29 September 1905
Sergeant James D. Gardner
Place of birth	Gloucester, Virginia
Allegiance	United States Army
Rank	Sergeant
Unit	36th Regiment United States Colored Troops
Battles/wars	American Civil War * Battle of Chaffin's Farm
Awards	Medal of Honor

James Daniel Gardner or Gardiner (16 September 1839 – 29 September 1905) was a Union Army soldier during the American Civil War and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions at the Battle of Chaffin's Farm.

A native of Gloucester County, Virginia, Gardner was serving as a private in Company I of the 36th Regiment U.S. Colored Troops when his unit participated in the Battle of Chaffin's Farm on 29 September 1864 in Virginia. Three days before the end of the war, on 6 April 1865, he was issued the Medal of Honor for his actions at Chaffin's Farm.

Private Gardner's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

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.

His last name was spelled "Gardiner" on the citation.

Gardner reached the rank of sergeant before leaving the Army. He died at the age of 66, on the 41st anniversary of his Medal of Honor action, and was buried at Calvary Cemetery, Ottumwa, Iowa. A memorial commemorating Gardner, erected in 2005 and unveiled in 2006, was placed in his hometown of Gloucester, Virginia.