Edgar Pierpont Putnam

Edgar Pierpont Putnam was a Union Army cavalryman during the American Civil War whose courage, initiative, and leadership earned him the Medal of Honor. He served with Company D, 9th New York Cavalry, and held the rank of Sergeant at the time of the action for which he was later recognized. His military career eventually advanced beyond the enlisted ranks, and he later received the brevet rank of Major in the New York Volunteers.

Putnam’s defining Medal of Honor action took place on May 27, 1864, at Crumps Creek, Virginia. At the time, Union and Confederate forces were engaged in active operations in Virginia, and cavalry units were frequently used for reconnaissance, screening, raids, pursuit, and rapid strikes against enemy formations.

As a Sergeant in the 9th New York Cavalry, Putnam was already serving as a noncommissioned officer with important responsibilities. A cavalry Sergeant was expected to help maintain discipline, supervise enlisted soldiers, transmit orders, and provide direct leadership during fast-moving operations where small units often had to act independently.

During the action at Crumps Creek, Putnam was operating with a relatively small reconnaissance force. Despite being faced by a stronger enemy body, he displayed aggressive leadership and determination.

His force succeeded in driving the enemy from its position. Putnam then encountered another Confederate cavalry force and continued the action rather than withdrawing.

He led or participated in a charge against this second enemy formation, helping break and scatter it.

The action resulted in the capture of 27 Confederate prisoners.

This combination of courage, initiative, and tactical success became the basis for Putnam’s Medal of Honor recognition.

For his gallantry at Crumps Creek on May 27, 1864, Edgar Pierpont Putnam was awarded the Medal of Honor.

The correct historical version associated with his service is the Medal of Honor 1862–1895 Army.

The Army Medal of Honor had been established during the Civil War and became the highest national military decoration available to Union soldiers for extraordinary gallantry and distinguished conduct.

The early Army version featured the distinctive five-pointed star design associated with the first generation of Medal of Honor recipients.

Because Putnam’s action occurred in 1864 while he was serving in the United States Army, the Medal of Honor 1862–1895 Army is the correct version for his profile.

No verified device or clasp is associated with his Medal of Honor.

Putnam’s action rank was Sergeant.

This is the rank that should be used when describing the specific military action that earned him the Medal of Honor.

His later military career brought further advancement.

Putnam eventually received the brevet rank of Major in the New York Volunteers.

A brevet promotion was an honorary or merit-based advancement commonly used during the Civil War to recognize distinguished service.

Although brevet rank did not always carry the full permanent authority of a regular promotion, it was still an important indication that an officer’s service had been formally recognized.

For Putnam’s hero profile, the correct Medal of Honor action rank remains Sergeant, while Brevet Major should be listed separately as his highest confirmed rank.

His combat specialization was cavalry.

The 9th New York Cavalry was a mounted unit, and Putnam’s Medal of Honor action involved reconnaissance, maneuver, charging enemy cavalry, and capturing prisoners.

His correct Combat Achievement Modifier is therefore Armor / Cavalry.

Putnam’s service reflects the growing importance of Union cavalry in 1864.

Earlier in the Civil War, Confederate cavalry had often enjoyed a strong reputation for mobility and battlefield effectiveness.

By 1864, however, Union cavalry had become increasingly experienced, aggressive, and capable of operating independently in large or small formations.

Actions like Putnam’s at Crumps Creek illustrate that change.

His willingness to press the attack against superior or additional enemy forces showed the initiative expected of an experienced cavalry noncommissioned officer.

The capture of 27 prisoners was also a significant result for a relatively small reconnaissance action.

It demonstrated that Putnam’s success was not merely symbolic.

His leadership directly contributed to the disruption and defeat of enemy cavalry forces in the area.

The Medal of Honor therefore recognized both personal bravery and effective battlefield leadership.

Putnam’s medal history also includes the Civil War Campaign Medal 1861–1865 Army under the client’s current Civil War medal rules.

This medal was established after the Civil War to recognize qualifying Army service during the conflict.

Putnam’s service in the 9th New York Cavalry clearly fell within the qualifying period.

He also survived long enough to be alive after the Civil War Campaign Medal was established.

Edgar Pierpont Putnam died on May 20, 1921.

Because he lived into the twentieth century, the Civil War Campaign Medal 1861–1865 Army is appropriate for his profile under the client’s current database workflow.

This gives Putnam a final medal record of two decorations.

The first is the Medal of Honor 1862–1895 Army.

This medal recognizes his specific act of gallantry at Crumps Creek on May 27, 1864.

The second is the Civil War Campaign Medal 1861–1865 Army.

This medal represents his broader qualifying service in the United States Army during the American Civil War.

The two decorations therefore recognize different aspects of his military service.

The Medal of Honor reflects extraordinary personal bravery and leadership in a specific combat action.

The Civil War Campaign Medal reflects his wider participation in the conflict.

Putnam’s career progression from Sergeant to Brevet Major adds another important dimension to his biography.

He began the action for which he became famous as a noncommissioned officer.

His later brevet advancement showed that his broader service and leadership were also recognized.

This progression reflects the opportunities that wartime service sometimes provided to capable soldiers who demonstrated initiative, courage, and command ability.

Putnam’s service was not limited to one moment of heroism.

His Medal of Honor action was the most famous part of his military record, but his later rank indicates that he continued to perform effectively as the war progressed.

Cavalry service required adaptability.

Mounted troops might spend one day scouting, another raiding enemy communications, another escorting a column, and another fighting dismounted as infantry.

A cavalry Sergeant therefore needed to be both physically capable and tactically dependable.

Putnam’s performance at Crumps Creek shows that he possessed those qualities.

His small force faced significant opposition, yet he continued to act aggressively.

The successful charge against Confederate cavalry and the capture of prisoners demonstrated effective battlefield decision-making under pressure.

The Medal of Honor preserved that action in the official military record.

The Civil War Campaign Medal later placed his service within the broader historical framework of the conflict.

Together, these decorations provide a complete summary of his recognized military service under the current database rules.

His final confirmed decorations are the Medal of Honor 1862–1895 Army and the Civil War Campaign Medal 1861–1865 Army.

No verified device or clasp is associated with either medal in his final profile.

Edgar Pierpont Putnam should ultimately be remembered as a Union cavalry Sergeant who demonstrated exceptional courage and initiative during reconnaissance operations in Virginia.

At Crumps Creek on May 27, 1864, he helped drive back a stronger enemy force, continued the action against additional Confederate cavalry, and contributed to the capture of 27 prisoners.

That conduct earned him the Medal of Honor.

His later advancement to Brevet Major reflected the broader recognition of his wartime service.

His survival until 1921 also made the Civil War Campaign Medal 1861–1865 Army appropriate under the current client rules.

The Medal of Honor 1862–1895 Army remains the defining symbol of Putnam’s bravery, while the Civil War Campaign Medal represents the larger scope of his service in the Union Army.