Archibald Molbone (1840–1912) (real name was "Archibald Malbone") was a soldier from Rhode Island who received 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 ...

for heroism during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

Biography

Archibald Molbone was born in

Coventry, Rhode Island Coventry is a town in Kent County, Rhode Island. The population was 35,688 at the 2020 census and is part of the . Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of . of it is land and of it (4.49%) is wate ...

, on May 3, 1840. He was the son of John Malbone and Huldah Corey and was living in

West Greenwich, Rhode Island West Greenwich is a town in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 6,528 at the 2020 census. West Greenwich was named for the historic town of Greenwich, Kent, England. It was separated from East Greenwich in 1741. Stu ...

, when he enlisted in the Union Army. He enlisted in

Battery C, 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery Battery C, 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery Regiment was an artillery artillery battery, battery that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Service Battery C, 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery Regiment was organized in Providence ...

on August 11, 1862, and was mustered into service the same day. During his service with Battery C he was promoted to the rank of corporal. He transferred to Battery G, 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery on December 29, 1864, and was promoted to sergeant on the same day. He fought at the

Third Battle of Petersburg The Third Battle of Petersburg, also known as the Breakthrough at Petersburg or the Fall of Petersburg, was fought on April 2, 1865, south and southwest Virginia in the area of Petersburg, Virginia, at the end of the 292-day Richmond–Petersbur ...

, Virginia on April 2, 1865. During the battle, he was one of 20 hand-picked artillerymen who accompanied an infantry assault which captured Confederate artillery pieces which were turned on the Confederates. He received the Medal of Honor on June 20, 1866. He was mustered out of service on June 24, 1865, with the rank of sergeant. After the war, Malbone had settled in Coventry, Rhode Island, as of 1870, where the census listed is occupation as "farm laborer". By 1885, he had moved to

Scituate, Rhode Island Scituate (; ) is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 10,384 at the 2020 census. History Scituate was first settled in 1710 by emigrants from Scituate, Massachusetts. The original spelling of the town's ...

, where the state census listed his occupation as "hustler". He was married to Mary Frances Marcure (1846–1909), with whom he had a son and three daughters. Malbone died on February 28, 1912. He is buried in the Burton Potter Cemetery on Field Hill Road in the Clayville section of Scituate.

Name confusion

On census records and in the report of the Adjutant General of Rhode Island for 1865, his name is listed as "Archibald Malbone". The name on his grave marker is "Archibald Malbourne" rather than "Archibald Molbone", which is the name that appears on the roll of Medal of Honor recipients. The misspelling of his last name is most likely a clerical error.

Medal of Honor citation

''Was one of a detachment of 20 picked artillerymen who voluntarily accompanied an infantry assaulting party and who turned upon the enemy the guns captured in the assault.''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Molbone, Archibald 1840 births 1912 deaths People from Coventry, Rhode Island American Civil War recipients of the Medal of Honor Petersburg Campaign United States Army Medal of Honor recipients Union army soldiers