John Michael Tobin

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John Michael Tobin
1841 – 1898
John Michael Tobin, Medal of Honor recipient
Allegiance	Union
Service/branch	Union Army
Rank	Brigadier General
Unit	9th Massachusetts Infantry
Battles/wars	American Civil War *Battle of Malvern Hill
Awards	Medal of Honor

John Michael Tobin (1841 - 1898) was an officer in the Union Army who rececived the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Malvern Hill during the American Civil War.

1 Biography
2 Medal of Honor citation
3 See also
4 Notes
5 References

[edit] Biography

John Tobin was born in Ireland in 1841 and he entered service from Boston Massachusettes.

At the outbreak of the Civil War, he enlisted as a Private in the 1st Vermont Volunteer Cavalry. He would participate in all of his units battles in the Virginia Theatre, and would rise to Colonel and commander of the regiment. While a Major during the Battle of Gettysburg, he led his men in General Judson Kilpatrick's foolish cavalry charge against Confederate lines at the tail end of the Battle. For his bravery in this action he would receive the Medal of Honor 28 years later. He commanded a detachment of cavalry in the failed and controversial Dahlgren Raid on Richmond in March 1864, and became the 1st Vermont's commander in June 1864 following the death in battle of its previous Colonel. During the fighting led by General Phil Sheridan, he commanded a brigade of cavalry in the Shenandoah Valley and at the Battles of 3rd Winchester and Cedar Creek. He was still in command of his brigade at the conclusion of the Appomattox Campaign. After being brevetted Brigadier General and Major General, US Volunteers, he was promoted on May 19, 1865 to full rank Brigadier General, US Volunteers. He was mustered out of Army service in 1866. His Medal of Honor was issued on September 9, 1891. On July 3, 1913 a statue of him was dedicated in the Gettysburg National Military Park, and it stands today on the South Confederate Avenue, near Plum Run.

He is buried in Mount Auburn Cemetery, Middlesex County, Cambridge, Massachusetts, on the Chestnut Path, Lot 1049.^[1]

[edit] Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: First Lieutenant and Adjutant, 9th Massachusetts Infantry. Place and date: At Malvern Hill, Va., 1 July 1862. Entered service at: Boston, Mass. Birth: Ireland. Date of issue: 11 March 1896.

Citation:

Voluntarily took command of the 9th Massachusetts while adjutant, bravely fighting from 3 p.m. until dusk, rallying and re_forming the regiment under fire; twice picked up the regimental flag, the color bearer having been shot down, and placed it in worthy hands.^[2]