George Maltby Love (January 1, 1831 – March 15, 1887) was a

colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

in the Union Army and a

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 ...

recipient for his actions in 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 ...

Civil War

George Love enlisted in the 21st New York Volunteer Infantry on May 9, 1861, and was mustered in as the regiment's

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 ...

on May 13, 1861.Eicher, John H., and

David J. Eicher David John Eicher (born August 7, 1961) is an American editor, writer, and popularizer of astronomy and space. He has been editor-in-chief of ''Astronomy'' magazine since 2002. He is author, coauthor, or editor of 23 books on science and American ...

, ''Civil War High Commands.'' Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001. . p. 354 He served in that duty until August 23, 1861, when he was transferred to the 44th New York Infantry and promoted to first lieutenant of Company A. He was promoted to

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

of Company A on January 2, 1862, and led his troops through the spring and summer of that year. On September 5, 1862, he was again promoted and transferred, to

major Major most commonly refers to: * Major (rank), a military rank * Academic major, an academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits * People named Major, including given names, surnames, nicknames * Major and minor in musi ...

of the 116th New York Volunteer Infantry. On July 16, 1863, he was promoted to colonel of the 116th New York Infantry, replacing Colonel Edward Payson Chapin, who was killed in action. While in command of his men during the October 19, 1864

Battle of Cedar Creek The Battle of Cedar Creek, or Battle of Belle Grove, was fought on October 19, 1864, during the American Civil War. The fighting took place in the Shenandoah Valley of Northern Virginia, near Cedar Creek, Middletown, and the Valley Pike. D ...

, Virginia, he captured the battle flag of the 2nd South Carolina Infantry Regiment, for which he was awarded the

on March 6, 1865. On March 7, 1865,

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was the 16th president of the United States, serving from 1861 until Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, his assassination in 1865. He led the United States through the American Civil War ...

nominated Love for appointment to the brevet grade of Brigadier General of volunteers to rank from March 7, 1865, to rank from March 7, 1865, and the

U.S. Senate The United States Senate is a chamber of the bicameral United States Congress; it is the upper house, with the U.S. House of Representatives being the lower house. Together, the Senate and House have the authority under Article One of the ...

confirmed the appointment on March 10, 1865. Love was honorably mustered out of the volunteer service on June 8, 1865.

Later life and death

Love enlisted in the

Regular Army A regular army is the official army of a state or country (the official armed forces), contrasting with irregular forces, such as volunteer irregular militias, private armies, mercenaries, etc. A regular army usually has the following: * a ...

in 1867 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the 11th United States Infantry. Retiring as a First Lieutenant in 1883, he received brevets up to Lieutenant Colonel, US Regular Army. Not much is known about his life after retiring. George Maltby Love died in Buffalo, New York, of natural causes on March 15, 1887, at the age of 56.New York Heritage
/ref> He was buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo, New York. His resting place lies only a few feet from where President

Millard Fillmore Millard Fillmore (January 7, 1800 – March 8, 1874) was the 13th president of the United States, serving from 1850 to 1853. He was the last president to be a member of the Whig Party while in the White House, and the last to be neither a De ...

is buried.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Colonel, 116th New York Infantry. Place and date: At Cedar Creek, Va., October 19, 1864. Entered service at: New York. Birth: New York. Date of issue: March 6, 1865. Citation:

Capture of battle flag of 2d South Carolina (C.S.A.).

Notes

References

* Eicher, John H., and

, ''Civil War High Commands.'' Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001. . : *

External links