George H. Maynard

George H. Maynard (February 2, 1836 - December 26, 1927) was a Union Army soldier in the American Civil War who received the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.[1]

For other people named George Maynard, see George Maynard (disambiguation).
George Henry Maynard
Maynard in 1895
Born(1836-02-02)February 2, 1836
Waltham, Massachusetts
DiedDecember 26, 1927(1927-12-26) (aged 91)
Waltham, Massachusetts
Place of burial
Mount Feake Cemetery Waltham, Massachusetts
AllegianceUnited States of America
Union
Service/branchUnited States Army
Union Army
RankPrivate
Unit Company D, 13th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War
AwardsMedal of Honor

Early life

Maynard was born in Waltham, Massachusetts on February 2, 1836. He was the son of Warren and Nancy (Holden) Maynard. He attended public schools in Waltham and became a jeweler's apprentice in Boston at the age of 15. He continued in this trade until he enlisted in the Union Army following the outbreak of the Civil War.[2]:183

Military service

Maynard enlisted as a private in Company D of the 13th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry on July 20, 1861. He fought at the Battle of Fredericksburg in Virginia on December 13, 1862. During the battle he ran through enemy fire to rescue another soldier who had been severely wounded in action. He received the Medal of Honor for this action in 1898. He was mustered out of the 13th Massachusetts on February 17, 1863.[2]:183

On January 17, 1864 he was commissioned a captain in the 82nd United States Colored Infantry. He was breveted to the rank of major on March 15, 1865 for meritorious service during the war. He was honorably mustered out of service on September 10, 1866.[2]:184

Later life

Maynard married Harriet Elizabeth Henry (1844–1897) of Boston on May 5, 1868. They had seven children, four of whom died in childhood and three who passed away in their early twenties (and only one of whom survived his mother).[3]

He became a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts in 1875. He became the first sergeant of the company in 1879.[2]:184 Maynard was an active mason and became a Knight Templar in the York Rite. He was also a companion of the Massachusetts Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States.[2]:184

Maynard died in 1927, at the age of 91 having outlived his wife and all his children and was buried in the Mount Feake Cemetery in Waltham.[4]

Medal of Honor citation

A wounded and helpless comrade, having been left on the skirmish line, this soldier voluntarily returned to the front under a severe fire and carried the wounded man to a place of safety.[5]

Notes
  1. "Medal of Honor Recipients". United States Army Center of Military History. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  2. History of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts, 1637-1888. Oliver Ayer Roberts. Alfred Mudge and Son. Boston. 1901.
  3. "George Henry Maynard". www.findagrave.com. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  4. "Waltham Civil War Veteran honored for his heroic actions" (PDF). Waltham News Tribune. 22 May 2009. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  5. "George H. Maynard". CMOHS Website. Retrieved 19 February 2015.

"George H. Maynard". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. Retrieved 7 April 2015.

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