Philip Sidney Post

Led brigade attack under fierce fire until severely wounded.

Philip Sidney Post was already a veteran regimental commander when, at Nashville in December 1864, he personally drove his brigade against a strongly defended Confederate position. He reached the enemy works before being struck down by grapeshot.

Born in Florida, New York, on 19 March 1833, Post graduated from Union College, studied law, and entered military service during the Civil War. He rose to command the 59th Illinois Infantry and later a brigade.

On 15 and 16 December 1864, during the Battle of Nashville, Post led his brigade against a heavily defended position under artillery and musket fire. After reaching the works he was severely wounded by grapeshot.

Medal of Honor Citation (condensed)

At Nashville, Tennessee, on 15 and 16 December 1864, Colonel Philip S. Post led his brigade in an assault on a strong enemy position under heavy fire and was severely wounded after reaching the Confederate works.

Post later received the brevet rank of brigadier general. After the war he served in the U.S. diplomatic service in Austria-Hungary and then represented Illinois in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1887 until his death in Washington in January 1895. He was buried in Hope Cemetery in Galesburg, Illinois.