Voltaire Paine Twombly

Knocked down, he rose and carried the flag through red hell!

Voltaire Paine Twombly was an Iowa soldier who became the guardian of his regiment's colors at Fort Donelson. He served in Company F, 2nd Iowa Infantry, and was a corporal when his defining action occurred on 15 February 1862.

During the battle, three members of the color guard fell in rapid succession. Twombly seized the national colors. Almost immediately a spent ball knocked him down, but he rose, recovered the flag and carried it through the remainder of the engagement. He later rose to captain.

Medal of Honor Citation (condensed): At Fort Donelson, Twombly took up the colors after three of the color guard had fallen; although knocked down almost at once by a spent ball, he rose and carried the flag to the end of the battle.

Twombly received the Medal of Honor on 12 March 1897. After the war he entered public life in Iowa and served as state treasurer from 1885 to 1891. He was buried in Pittsburg Cemetery. The documented Union Army service supports the Army Civil War Campaign Medal, with no additional medal or device established for this rack.