George Uhrie (often misspelled Uhrl and also spelled as Uhri) (October 21, 1838 – September 28, 1911) was a

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...

soldier and a recipient of America's highest military 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 ...

Early life and military service

George Uhri was born on October 21, 1838, in the

Grand Duchy of Baden The Grand Duchy of Baden () was a German polity on the east bank of the Rhine. It originally existed as a sovereign state from 1806 to 1871 and later as part of the German Empire until 1918. The duchy's 12th-century origins were as a Margravia ...

, to Mr. Uhri and Mary Uhri. He came to the United States in 1855. On February 9, 1856, at the age of 17, he joined the Army in New York and was assigned to Battery G, 2nd US Artillery and served during the

Seminole Indian The Seminole are a Native Americans in the United States, Native American people who developed in Florida in the 18th century. Today, they live in Oklahoma and Florida, and comprise three federally recognized tribes: the Seminole Nation of Oklah ...

War in Florida from 1856 to 1857, and later in 1857 and 1858 against the

Crows The Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS) is a series of remote weapon stations used by the US military on its armored vehicles and ships. It allows weapon operators to engage targets without leaving the protection of their vehicle. ...

and

Sioux The Sioux or Oceti Sakowin ( ; Dakota/ Lakota: ) are groups of Native American tribes and First Nations people from the Great Plains of North America. The Sioux have two major linguistic divisions: the Dakota and Lakota peoples (translati ...

in Minnesota. He became a citizen of the United States of America on December 15, 1860.

Civil War service

In 1860 he was assigned as a sergeant with Light Battery F, 3rd US Artillery and was transferred in 1861 to Light Battery F, 5th Regiment, US Artillery and served until 1865. During the war, he participated in the following battles: Lee's Mills, Virginia, Gelding's Farm, White Oak Swamp, Virginia, Malvern Hill, Virginia - 1862; South Mountain, Antietam, Maryland, Fredericksburg, Virginia - 1862, Chancellorsville, Virginia, Rappahannock Station, Virginia, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania - 1863; siege of Petersburg, Virginia, Chapin's Farm, Virginia - 1864; siege and capture of Richmond, Virginia from 1864 to 1865.

Medal of Honor action

At the

Battle of White Oak Swamp The Battle of White Oak Swamp took place on June 30, 1862, in Henrico County, Virginia, as part of the Seven Days Battles (Peninsula Campaign) of the American Civil War. As the Union Army of the Potomac retreated southeast toward the James River, ...

on June 30, 1862, while serving with the Light Battery F, 5th U.S. Artillery, was in a party of three that protected a field gun, belonging to another battery that was deserted by its officers and men. For his conduct on this occasion, he was awarded the Medal of Honor on April 4, 1898. Uhri's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

Was 1 of a party of 3 who, under heavy fire of advancing enemy, voluntarily secured and saved from capture a field gun belonging to another battery, and which had been deserted by its officers and men. .

On December 12, 1874, while Uhri was stationed at

Fort Adams Fort Adams is a former United States Army post in Newport, Rhode Island, Newport, Rhode Island, that was established on July 4, 1799, as a Seacoast defense in the United States#First System, First System Coastal defence and fortification, coas ...

Newport, Rhode Island Newport is a seaside city on Aquidneck Island in Rhode Island, United States. It is located in Narragansett Bay, approximately southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, Providence, south of Fall River, Massachusetts, south of Boston, and nort ...

, Uhri's son, Franklin A. Uhri, died at Fort Adams and was buried in the fort's cemetery.

Later career

George Uhri retired from the Army on December 31, 1886. He then served as a New York City police officer from 1893 to 1904. On February 11, 1904, he requested to be relieved the force and was granted an annual pension of $500.00. In 1905, he was living at 43 West 42nd Street, New York, New York.

Family

George Uhri was married at Richmond, Virginia on October 8, 1866, to Caroline Lena Ernst. Caroline was born in Virginia. The couple had seven children, Franklin, Joseph, Richard, Edward, William, George and Arthur. Two of his sons, Arthur (b 1869) and Edward Henry Uhri, were born in Rhode Island. George E. was born about 1869 in Washington, D.C. Franklin, Richard, William and Joseph's birthplaces are not known. Edward was born on July 9, 1875, and died in Florida. His godfather was financier

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Death

Uhri died on September 28, 1911, at 3:20 a.m., from a brain concussion at age 73. On October 7, 1911, a letter from the War Department was sent to the mayor of New York City requesting confirmation of the date, place and cause of Uhri's death. George Uhri was buried in the Lutheran Cemetery, Middle Village, New York on October 1, 1911. His widow died on September 13, 1914, of acute bronchial pneumonia in New York City and was buried beside her husband.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Uhrl, George 1838 births 1911 deaths Emigrants from the Grand Duchy of Baden Immigrants to the United States Military personnel from New York City People of New York (state) in the American Civil War Union army soldiers United States Army Medal of Honor recipients German-born Medal of Honor recipients American Civil War recipients of the Medal of Honor Military personnel from Baden-Württemberg People from the Grand Duchy of Baden