Henry Walker Rowe

Three soldiers charged into danger. Twenty-seven enemy pickets were disarmed, and a stand of Confederate flags was captured. Among the men who carried out this remarkable feat was Henry Walker Rowe, a Union soldier whose courage during the American Civil War earned him the Medal of Honor, the United States military's highest decoration for valor.

Born on April 1, 1840, in Candia, New Hampshire, Henry Walker Rowe answered the call to serve his country during one of the most turbulent periods in American history. He enlisted in the Union Army and served as a Private in Company I, 11th New Hampshire Infantry Regiment. Like thousands of young Americans who joined the struggle to preserve the Union, Rowe faced the dangers and hardships of a war that would shape the nation's future.

His defining moment came on June 17, 1864, during the Union campaign against Petersburg, Virginia. As Federal forces fought to break through the Confederate defences surrounding this strategically important city, Rowe and two fellow soldiers undertook an extraordinary act of bravery. Together, they rushed an enemy picket position, disarmed twenty-seven opposing soldiers, and captured a stand of flags. Their daring action demonstrated exceptional courage and determination in the face of the enemy.

For this conspicuous gallantry, Henry Walker Rowe was awarded the Medal of Honor. His decoration was presented on December 1, 1864, recognising an act of bravery that became an enduring part of his military legacy. The achievement distinguished Rowe among the Union soldiers whose extraordinary actions helped define the history of the American Civil War.

Rowe survived the conflict and returned to civilian life after his military service. Although his battlefield achievement had brought him national recognition, his story is also a reminder of the countless ordinary soldiers whose courage shaped extraordinary moments in American history. His service with the 11th New Hampshire Infantry and his remarkable action at Petersburg remain important chapters in the regiment's wartime history.

Henry Walker Rowe died on October 9, 1913, in Roxbury, Massachusetts. He was laid to rest in Hill Cemetery in his hometown of Candia, New Hampshire. More than a century after his death, his Medal of Honor continues to commemorate the courage he displayed at Petersburg on June 17, 1864.

The story of Henry Walker Rowe is ultimately one of courage, initiative, and comradeship. Alongside two fellow soldiers, he confronted an enemy position and accomplished something remarkable. His name deserves to be remembered among the Medal of Honor recipients of the American Civil War, whose acts of bravery helped preserve the Union and secure their place in American military history.