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Service Profile
- Branch
- U.S. Army
- Rank
- Sergeant
- Service Era
- American Civil War, Eastern Theater of the American Civil War
- Medals Recorded
- 1
L
Lester Archer
Sergeant, U.S. Army
Support & adopt this hero ↓American Civil WarEastern Theater of the American Civil War
Awards & Decorations
Ribbon Rack
Biography
Charged into Fort Harrison and planted the regiment's colors!
Lester Archer carried the colors of the 96th New York Infantry into Fort Harrison and planted them on the captured works. Born in New York in 1838, Archer served as a sergeant in Company E, 96th New York Infantry during the Civil War.
On September 29, 1864, Union forces assaulted Fort Harrison, part of the Confederate defenses below Richmond, Virginia. In the attack Archer reached the fort and placed his regiment's colors on the works. His conduct was recognized with the Medal of Honor, but he did not live to see the decoration presented. He died on October 27, 1864, less than a month after the action.
Medal of Honor Citation (condensed): Gallantry in placing the colors of his regiment on Fort Harrison.
Archer was buried in Virginia, but his remains were not recovered for an identified grave. His Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously on April 6, 1865.
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