Joseph Van Matre

Firing from the parapet of Fort Gregg

Joseph Van Matre was born on 20 November 1828 in Mason County, in what is now West Virginia. He served as a private with Company G, 116th Ohio Infantry during the American Civil War.

On 2 April 1865 at Petersburg, Virginia, Van Matre took part in the assault on Fort Gregg. He climbed onto the parapet and fired into the fort while comrades passed loaded guns up to him. He received the Medal of Honor on 12 May 1865 for the action.

Van Matre died on 14 January 1892 and is buried in Hill Cemetery in Middleport, Ohio. His citation records the cooperation between him and the soldiers who supplied his weapons during the assault.

Medal of Honor citation

In the assault on Fort Gregg, this soldier climbed upon the parapet and fired down into the fort as fast as the loaded guns could be passed up to him by comrades.