Sidney Haight Explained
Sidney Haight (August 21, 1847 – September 17, 1918) was awarded the Medal of Honor during the American Civil War for actions during the Siege of Petersburg.
Military service
On 23 October 1863, Haight lied about his age and said he was 17 (he had turned 16 in August) and mustered into Federal service in Company E, of the 1st Michigan Volunteer Sharpshooters Regiment for three years.
On 2 February 1864, Haight was joined by his older brother James B who enlisted. The brothers would serve together until Spotsylvania when Jim was wounded in the left arm.
Haight was awarded the Medal of Honor during the debacle that was the Battle of the Crater. When the rebels counterattacked, "instead of retreating, remained in the captured works, regardless of his personal safety and exposed to the firing, which he boldly and deliberately returned until the enemy was close upon him." Haight was a Corporal serving with Company E, 1st Michigan Sharpshooters. Haight was noticed by men for his courage and seeming invincibility, as he and a Native American comrade from Company K, Antoine Scott, maintained a constant, accurate covering fire on the rebels until all who could have escaped. At that time, they also retreated.
Haight also participated in the recapture of the redoubt at the Battle of Fort Stedman where the 1st Michigan Sharpshooters, skirmishing for the 20th Michigan pinned down the rebels who had taken the for that they could not escape the counterattack and were taken prisoner. Haight's conduct was so outstanding that he was again recommended for a Medal of Honor.
Haight mustered out of Federal service with his regiment, 28 July 1865, still only seventeen-years-old. He married and had two sons: Elsworth Haight (1879–1917) and Benjamin Harrison Haight (1888–1957). He received the Medal of Honor for his heroic behavior in the Crater until the 1890s. He died on 17 September 1918, aged 71, survived by his brother James, who died in 1919, and his son Benjamin.
References
- Web site: Medal of Honor Recipients . United States Army Center of Military History . https://web.archive.org/web/20190629125936/http://www.history.army.mil/moh/civilwar_gl.html#HALL . 2019-06-29 . 2020-04-24 . .
- Book: Dyer, Frederick H . Frederick H. Dyer . A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion . Dyer Pub. Co. . Des Moines, IA . 1908 . 1280–1281 . B01BUFJ76Q . 2020-04-24.
- Book: Herek, Raymond J . These Men Have Seen Hard Service : The First Michigan Sharpshooters in the Civil War . Wayne State University Press . 2008 . Detroit MI . 613 . en . 9780814338322 . 1154897883 . 97024303 . 2020-04-24.
- Book: Subcommittee on Veterans' Affairs, United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Labor and Public Welfare . Edward M Kennedy, Chairman . Medal of Honor, 1863–1968 : "In the Name of the Congress of the United States" . U.S. Government Printing Office . Committee print (United States. Congress), 90th Congress, 2nd session . 1968 . Washington DC . 1087 . 1049691780 . 76600969 . 2020-04-24.
- Book: Turner . George H. . First Michigan Sharpshooters, First and Second U.S.Sharpshooters, Company D. Western Sharpshooters . Ihling Bros. & Everard . XLIV . Record of service of Michigan volunteers in the Civil War, 1861–1865 . 1905 . Kalamazoo, Mi . 42 . subscription . 933251848 . 06000627 . 2020-04-24.
- Book: Millbrook, Minnie Dubbs . A Study in Valor: Michigan Medal of Honor Winners in the Civil War . Michigan Civil War Centennial Observance Commission . 1966a . Lansing, MI . 155 . en . 2027/mdp.39015071161064 . B0006BNOQU . 79996844 . 66065600 .
- Book: Millbrook, Minnie Dubbs . Twice Told Tales of Michigan and Her Soldiers in the Civil War . Michigan Civil War Centennial Observance Commission . 1966b . Lansing, MI . 84 . en . 2027/mdp.39015011597856 . B002FWFV1O . 885935 . 67063397 .
- Book: . Operations in Northern West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. January 1 – June 30, 1865.— Section 1 — Reports . U.S. Government Printing Office . Washington, DC . 1893 . The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies . XLVI–LVIII–I–1 . 2027/coo.31924079575332?urlappend=%3Bseq=2 . 427057 . .
- Web site: Sightline Media Group . 2020 . Sidney Haight . The Hall of Valor Project . 19 May 2020 . .
- Web site: VCOnline . 2020 . Sidney Haight . The Comprehensive Guide to the Victoria & George Cross . 2 May 2020 . .
- Web site: CMOHS . Haight, Sidney . Congressional Medal of Honor Society . 2014 . 19 August 2014 . .
- Web site: The National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation . Haight, Sidney . The National Medal of Honor Museum . 2020 . 19 May 2020 . .
External links