Abraham Cohn

Abraham Cohn was born in 1832 in Guttentag, which was then part of Silesia in Prussia, and moved to the United States before the American Civil War. He joined the Union forces in New York City on July 22, 1861, and became a sergeant in the 68th New York Infantry Regiment. He progressed through the ranks until he was given a commission as captain of Company E. After leaving the 68th New York Infantry in December 1862, he reentered the military in January 1864 by enlisting as a private in the 6th New Hampshire Infantry Regiment, where he later attained the rank of regimental sergeant major.

While acting in this role, Cohn distinguished himself in two major operations in Virginia during the summer of 1864. At the Battle of the Wilderness on May 6, he worked among thick woodland and under heavy fire from the enemy to get the disorganized and retreating troops from several regiments back into defensive formations. On July 30, at the Battle of the Crater near Petersburg, he moved through intense Confederate fire in order to pass on important orders to the forward Union lines.

Cohn received the Medal of Honor on August 24, 1865, because of his actions at the Wilderness and Petersburg.

The official citation reads: "During Battle of the Wilderness rallied and formed, under heavy fire, disorganized and fleeing troops of different regiments. At Petersburg, Va., 30 July 1864, bravely and coolly carried orders to the advanced line under severe fire."

Cohn resided in New York City after the war and died there on June 2, 1897; he is buried in the Beth Olam Cemetery in Ridgewood, New York.