Abraham Jay Buckles

Abraham Jay Buckles, recorded in Medal of Honor records as Abram J. Buckles, was born on 2 August 1846 in Delaware County, near Muncie, Indiana. Largely self-educated, he joined Company E, 19th Indiana Infantry in 1861. His regiment became part of the Iron Brigade in the Army of the Potomac. [1,2]

On 5 May 1864, during the Wilderness campaign in Virginia, Sergeant Buckles carried his regiment's colours despite an existing open wound, continuing until he was wounded again. The Medal of Honor was awarded on 4 December 1893 for this action. The official citation reads: “Though suffering from an open wound, Buckles carried the regimental colors until again wounded.” He subsequently reached the rank of second lieutenant. [1]

Buckles suffered repeated wounds during the war and lost his right leg after another wound in March 1865. After leaving the Army, he taught school while studying law. Admitted to the bar in 1875, he moved to California and practised at Dixon. He was elected district attorney of Solano County in 1879 and later became a superior court judge. His career culminated in service on California's Third District Court of Appeal from April 1905 to January 1907; he subsequently returned to the Solano County superior bench. [2]

Buckles died on 19 January 1915 in San Bernardino, California, aged 68. He was buried in Fairfield Cemetery, Fairfield. His postwar career as a teacher, lawyer and judge followed a military service marked by severe wounds and the preservation of his regiment's colours under fire. [1,2]

Sources: [1] Congressional Medal of Honor Society, “Abram J Buckles”: https://www.cmohs.org/recipients/abram-j-buckles [2] California Courts, Third District Court of Appeal, “Abraham Jay Buckles”: https://appellate.courts.ca.gov/district-courts/3dca/bio/abraham-jay-buckles