Robert Stoddart Robertson

Rallied a fleeing regiment by riding its colors at the enemy

At Corbins Bridge, First Lieutenant Robert Stoddart Robertson saw a Union regiment breaking to the rear and acted before the retreat became a rout. Born at Argyle, New York, on 16 April 1839, he served in Company K, 93rd New York Infantry and was acting as an aide-de-camp during the action.

On 8 May 1864, Robertson seized the retreating regiment's colors, rode with them toward the advancing enemy, and used the flag to rally the men. His decision put him in front of the withdrawing soldiers and directly in the face of the enemy advance.

Medal of Honor Citation (condensed)

Seeing a regiment break to the rear, Robertson seized its colors, rode them back to the front in the face of the advancing enemy, and rallied the retreating troops.

Robertson later held the brevet rank of colonel in the New York Volunteers. He died at Fort Wayne, Indiana, on 25 August 1906 and was buried in Lindenwood Cemetery. The source export's rank is not changed, but the Medal of Honor record identifies his action rank as first lieutenant and his highest rank as brevet colonel.