Louis J. Bruner

Bringing a threatened battalion to safety

Louis J. Bruner was born on 6 October 1843 in Monroe County, Indiana. He served as a private with Company H, 5th Indiana Cavalry during the American Civil War.

On 2 December 1863 at Walker's Ford, Tennessee, Bruner volunteered to cross enemy lines under fire. He carried information to a battalion in danger of capture, enabling it to reach safety. He received the Medal of Honor on 9 March 1896.

Bruner later held the rank of quartermaster sergeant. He died on 28 January 1912 in Portland, Indiana, and is buried in Green Park Cemetery there. His medal is held by Indiana War Memorials in Indianapolis.

Medal of Honor citation

Voluntarily passed through the enemy's lines under fire and conveyed to a battalion, then in a perilous position and liable to capture, information which enabled it to reach a point of safety.