Facts: - death place: york county , virginia - caption: medal of honor recipient - placeofburial label: place of burial - battles: american civil war - death date: 10 march 1915 - allegiance: united states of america union - placeofburial: cheesecake cemetery charles corner , york county , virginia - awards: medal of honor - birth date: 8 february 1835 - serviceyears: 1864 -- 1867 - name: edward ratcliff - branch: united states army union army - unit: 38th regiment united states colored troops - birth place: james city county , virginia - rank: sergeant major Based on these bullet points, write a short biography describing the life of edward ratcliff .
Answer:
edward ratcliff -lrb- february 8 , 1835 -- march 10 , 1915 -rrb- 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 .born as a slave , he was freed when the union army took yorktown .by september 29 , 1864 , ratcliff was serving as a first sergeant in company c of the 38th regiment u.s. colored troops .on that day , his unit participated in the battle of chaffin 's farm in virginia , and it was for his actions during the battle that he was awarded the medal of honor six months later , on april 6 , 1865 .ratcliff reached the rank of sergeant major before leaving the military .he died at age 80 and was buried in cheesecake cemetery , charles corner , york county , virginia .