Rufus King, Jr.

Infobox Military Person
name=Rufus King, Jr.
born= Birth date|1838|3|21
died= death date and age|1900|3|18|1838|3|21
placeofburial=


caption=King after the American Civil War
nickname=
placeofbirth= New York City, New York
placeofdeath=
allegiance= United States of America Union
branch= United States Army Union Army
serviceyears=
rank= Major
unit=Company F, 7th New York Militia
commands=
battles=American Civil War
awards=Medal of Honor
relations=
laterwork=

Rufus King, Jr. (21 March, 1838 – 18 March, 1900) was an artillery officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War, and a Medal of Honor recipient.

Family

Born in New York City, Rufus King, Jr., was the son of Rufus King, a graduate of the United States Military Academy, Class of 1833, and brigadier general during the Civil War, and the brother of Charles King, who was a military commander in the Philippine-American War. His great-grandfather was Rufus King, who was one of the signers of the United States Constitution

Military career

The younger King entered the army as a private in Company F, 7th New York Militia, serving a three-month enlistment from April to June 1861. He acquired a direct commission as a first lieutenant in the regular U.S. Army, and was assigned to the 4th U.S. Artillery, on 5 August, 1861. He served in the Army of the Potomac throughout the war, eventually commanding (from 1864) Battery A, 4th U.S. Artillery, in the famed U.S. Horse Artillery Brigade. Lieutenant King was awarded one brevet promotion (to captain) for his bravery during the Seven Days Battles, in actions at the Battle of White Oak Swamp, on 30 June, 1862. During that fight, King ranked only as a section chief, but took command of combined Batteries A & C, 4th U.S. Artillery, when his commander was wounded.

At the end of the war, King was breveted major for conduct during the war, but would have to wait until 1869 to receive his permanent promotion to captain. He died in New York on 18 March, 1900.

The Medal of Honor

On 22 March, 1898, the United States Army finally awarded King the Medal of Honor for his actions at White Oak Swamp.

Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, 4th U.S. Artillery. Place and date: At White Oak Swamp Bridge, Va., 30 June 1862. Entered service at: New York. Birth: New York. Date of issue: 2 April 1898.

Citation:

:This officer, when his captain was wounded, succeeded to the command of two batteries while engaged against a superior force of the enemy and fought his guns most gallantly until compelled to retire.

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients
*

External links

* [http://aotw.org/moh.php?citation_id=107 Rufus King, Jr., 'The Medal of Honor'] .

References

* [http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/cwphtml/cwphome.html "American Memory: Selected Civil War Photographs".] Library of Congress. Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D.C..
*Heitman, Francis B. "Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army, From its Organization, September 29, 1789 to March 2, 1903". Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1903.
*U.S. War Department. "The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies". Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1894.

Persondata
NAME= King, Rufus, Jr.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= United States Army Medal of Honor recipient
DATE OF BIRTH= 21 March, 1838
PLACE OF BIRTH= New York City, New York
DATE OF DEATH= 18 March, 1900
PLACE OF DEATH=