Henry A . Barnum Henry Alanson Barnum ( September 24 , 1833 – January 29 , 1892 ) was a United States Army officer during the American Civil War and a recipient of the United States military ' s highest decoration , the Medal of Honor . Early life . Barnum was born in Jamesville , New York , and educated in the common schools . He attended Syracuse Institute and passed his bar exam in 1860 , four years after his graduation . Civil War . Barnum entered the U . S . service May 13 , 1861 , as captain of Company I , 12th N . Y . Infantry , at the age of 27 ; and afterward in October 1861 was promoted to major of that regiment . He served with distinction with that command , including the Peninsula Campaign under Maj . Gen . George B . McClellan , until July 1 , 1862 , when he was dangerously wounded by gunshot through the left ilium , at Malvern Hill , Virginia . At the time , the wound was supposed to be mortal ; his body was abandoned and fell into the hands of the enemy , but afterward he returned to the Union lines , so far recovered from his injury as to accept a commission as colonel in the 149th New York , dated October 4 , 1862 , rank September 17 , 1862 , and was mustered into service with the regiment at Syracuse , New York . Not being able to assume immediate command , he joined the regiment in the field on the eve of its departure from Fairfax Station , Virginia , January 18 , 1863 . He soon required further surgical operations , and on April 1 , obtained leave of absence and went to Albany , New York , for treatment under Dr . March . He next joined the regiment at Edward ' s Ferry , Maryland , during the Gettysburg Campaign , but was still too ill to render active service only part of the time , and at Ellis ' Ford , Virginia , August 6 , 1863 , was compelled a second time to leave the regiment , and went to Washington , D . C . , for treatment . He again joined the regiment at Wauhatchie , Tennessee , on November 10 , 1863 , and received a flesh wound in the right forearm while leading the charge of his regiment at the Battle of Lookout Mountain , November 24 , 1863 . On December 23 , in pursuance of an order of Maj . Gen . George H . Thomas , he was detailed to convey the captured flags taken by the 149th New York and other regiments to the War Department at Washington , and also received a leave of absence for twenty days , to take effect after the performance of such duty . For this service no recognition was given at the time , but later Col . Barnum received the Medal of Honor . While absent in the performance of this duty , Barnum received further surgical treatment , and being disabled for field duty , was placed on recruiting service for the regiment , and again joined his command at Kennesaw Mountain , Georgia , about June 26 , 1864 , and a few days later was wounded by a fragment of shell in the right side at Peach Tree Creek , Georgia , July 20 , 1864 . On September 10 , following the death of Colonel David Ireland at Atlanta , Barnum assumed command of the 3rd Brigade , which he retained for the rest of the war . At Savannah , Georgia , Barnum led his brigade , first in Sherman ' s command , into the captured city , and under Brig . Gen . John W . Geary had charge of its western portion during the occupancy by General Sherman . Soon after the capture of Savannah , Barnum received the brevet rank of brigadier general of U . S . Volunteers , and afterwards at Washington , D . C . , the full rank of that grade to date May 31 , 1865 , and soon afterward the brevet rank of major general of U . S . Volunteers to date from March 13 , 1865 . Postbellum career . Barnum resigned from the service on January 9 , 1866 . After the war Barnum was frequently honored in public and private life . He was New York State Prison Inspector from 1866 to 1868 , elected on the Republican ticket at the New York state election , 1865 , but defeated for re - election at the New York state election , 1868 . He was a member of the New York State Assembly ( New York Co . , 21st D . ) in 1885 . Barnum died in New York City and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery , Syracuse , New York . Medal of Honor citation . Rank and organization : Colonel , 149th New York Infantry . Place and date : At Chattanooga , Tenn . , November 23 , 1863 . Entered service at : Syracuse , N . Y . Born : September 24 , 1833 , Jamesville , Onondaga County , N . Y . Date of issue : July 1889 . Citation :