Amos Jay Cummings (May 15, 1841 – May 2, 1902) was an American newspaperman,

Civil War A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...

veteran, and politician who served as a

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from

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

from 1889 to 1894, and from 1895 to 1902. He was a recipient of the

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military's highest decoration, the

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, military decoration and is awarded to recognize American United States Army, soldiers, United States Navy, sailors, Un ...

Biography

Born in

Conklin, New York Conklin is a town in Broome County, New York, United States. Per the 2020 census, the population was 5,008. The town is on the south border of the county, southeast of Binghamton. History The area was first settled around 1788. The Town of C ...

, Cummings attended the

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s before being

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to the

printing Printing is a process for mass reproducing text and images using a master form or template. The earliest non-paper products involving printing include cylinder seals and objects such as the Cyrus Cylinder and the Cylinders of Nabonidus. The ...

trade at age twelve. Cummings claimed he was with

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in his last invasion of

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in October 1858, but this is disputed by Cummings' biographer. During the

, Cummings enlisted in the army at

Irvington, New Jersey Irvington is a Township (New Jersey), township in Essex County, New Jersey, Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 61,176, an increase of 7,250 (+13.4%) from the 2010 Uni ...

, in September 1862 and served as a

sergeant major Sergeant major is a senior Non-commissioned officer, non-commissioned Military rank, rank or appointment in many militaries around the world. History In 16th century Spain, the ("sergeant major") was a general officer. He commanded an army's ...

in the 26th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He earned the Medal of Honor on May 4, 1863, at Salem Heights,

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. His official citation reads: "Rendered great assistance in the heat of the action in rescuing a part of the field batteries from an extremely dangerous and exposed position." His medal was not awarded until several decades later, on March 28, 1894. He was mustered out in June 1863.

Journalism

After his military service, Cummings filled

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ial positions for the ''

New York Tribune The ''New-York Tribune'' (from 1914: ''New York Tribune'') was an American newspaper founded in 1841 by editor Horace Greeley. It bore the moniker ''New-York Daily Tribune'' from 1842 to 1866 before returning to its original name. From the 1840s ...

'' under

Horace Greeley Horace Greeley (February 3, 1811 – November 29, 1872) was an American newspaper editor and publisher who was the founder and newspaper editor, editor of the ''New-York Tribune''. Long active in politics, he served briefly as a congres ...

. He later worked for ''

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'' and the ''New York Express''. He published a series of popular travel accounts of Florida and the American West for ''The New York Sun''.

Congress

Cummings was elected as a

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to the 50th Congress (March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1889). He declined renomination in 1888, but was subsequently elected to the 51st Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of

Samuel S. Cox Samuel Sullivan "Sunset" Cox (September 30, 1824 – September 10, 1889) was an American Congressman and diplomat. He represented both Ohio and New York in the United States House of Representatives and served as United States Ambassador to the ...

. He was reelected to the

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and 53rd Congresses and served from November 5, 1889, to November 21, 1894, when he resigned. He served as chairman of the Committee on Naval Affairs during the 53rd Congress. Cummings was elected to the 54th Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Representative-elect Andrew J. Campbell. He was reelected to the 55th, 56th, and 57th Congresses, serving from November 5, 1895, until his death on May 2, 1902. Cummings died in

Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the List of United States ...

pneumonia Pneumonia is an Inflammation, inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as Pulmonary alveolus, alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of Cough#Classification, productive or dry cough, ches ...

on May 2, 1902. He was interred in

Clinton Cemetery Clinton Cemetery is a cemetery in Irvington, New Jersey, Irvington, Essex County, New Jersey. The non-sectarian lot-owner owned cemetery comprises near Union Avenue and Lyons Avenue; the Elizabeth River (New Jersey), Elizabeth River lies at its w ...

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Sergeant Major, 26th New Jersey Infantry. Place and date: At Salem Heights, Va., 4 May 1863. Entered service at: Irvington, N.J. Born: 15 May 1841, Conklin, N.Y. Date of issue. 28 March 1894. Citation:

Rendered great assistance in the heat of the action in rescuing a part of the field batteries from an extremely dangerous and exposed position.

Notes

References

: : Retrieved on January 30, 2008

External links

*
Memorial addresses on the life and character of Amos J. Cummings, late a representative from New York delivered in the House of Representatives and Senate frontispiece 1902

Archival material by or about Amos J. Cummings
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cummings, Amos Jay 1841 births 1902 deaths United States Army Medal of Honor recipients Union army soldiers American Civil War recipients of the Medal of Honor Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state) 19th-century members of the United States House of Representatives 20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives Deaths from pneumonia in Maryland