HARRISON COLLINS, Springfield National Cemetery - Springfield, MO
N 37° 10.431 W 093° 15.813
15S E 476603 N 4114190
Civil War Medal of Honor recipient Corporal Collins final resting place is in Springfield National Cemetery. In 1989 his body was moved here from a cemetery in Ozark County, Missouri. His act of heroism was on December 24,1864 in Tennessee.
Waymark Code: WM9EZZ
Location: Missouri, United States
Date Posted: 08/11/2010
Views: 9
The Medal of Honor citation from the army website reads:
"Rank and organization. Corporal, Company A, 1st Tennessee Cavalry. Place and date: At Richland Creek, Tenn., 24 December 1864. Entered service at: Cumberland Gap, Tenn. Born: 1834, Hawkins County, Tenn. Date of issue: 24 February 1865. Citation: Capture of flag of Chalmer's Division (C.S.A.)."
Collins lived until 1890 and was buried in a cemetery near Isabella in Ozark County, Missouri. In 1989 his final resting place became in an honored spot in the Springfield National Cemetery.
His heroism was for capturing the flag of Confederate General James R. Chambers Division as it covered the retreat of Confederate General John Bell Hood's Army's retreat from Nashville. General Chalmers was a seasoned veteran--from Shiloh to Franklin to Nashville.
The website of the Missouri Civil War Museum in St. Louis gives an excellent account of the importance of flags on a civil war battlefield. Here is a short quote from this site:
"Flags in the American Civil War were the “premier trophy” of an opposing force. Capturing the enemy’s colors in battle was a symbolic and rewarding feat for the soldiers. However, capturing these banners usually meant a fight to the death. Color bearers and their guards knew and realized the importance of the instruments that they were entrusted with by their comrades to protect and they rarely surrendered them without a vicious fight. Soldiers of the Civil War would kill for the capture of these flags and likewise they would fight to the death in order to protect them. Therefore it is not surprising to know that more soldiers in the Union Army would receive the Congressional Medal of Honor for actions regarding the flag than for any other reason."
After his act of valor Harrison Collins reached the rank of sergeant before he was mustered out of the Army at the end of the Civil War. Here in Missouri is his final resting place in a place of honor. I found it almost by accident on a hot summer's August day near the monument of General Lyon, the Union Commander at the Battle of Wilson's Creek, who died on that battlefield on August 10,1861.
Armed Service: Army
|
Visit Instructions:
To properly log your find, post a photograph of the medal recipient's grave marker. Do not place anything on the grave when taking the photo. If you have more information about the recipient please include it in your log.