DOB/DOD: October 26, 1843 (Salisbury, CT) – March 10, 1922 (Beacon, NY); 78 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Married Hannah E. Montfort (1851-1931) on June 24, 1874, in Matteawan (Beacon), New York.
CHILDREN: One daughter, Marie E. Briggs Hamburger (1891-1973).
ENLISTMENT: Enlisted on July 18, 1862, in Salisbury, Connecticut.
WOUNDED: June 2, 1864, in Cold Harbor, Virginia.
DISCHARGE: Mustered out on July 7, 1865.
FAMILY: Born to Gilbert V. (1813-1851) and Jane Atwood Briggs (1810-?). Two sisters, Elizabeth (1840-?) and Martha H. (1847-1847).
MEDAL OF HONOR CITATION
AWARDED FOR ACTIONS DURING: Civil War
BRANCH OF SERVICE: Army
UNIT: Company B, 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery
DATE OF ISSUE AND PRESENTATION: May 10, 1865
AGE ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT: 22
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Corporal Elijah A. Briggs, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 3 April 1865, while serving with Company B, 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery, in action at Petersburg, Virginia, for capture of battle flag. Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. Served during the Civil War as a Corporal in Company B, 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery. He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery at Petersburg, Virginia, on April 3, 1865. His citation reads simply, “Capture of battle flag.”
From The Beacon (New York) Daily Herald on Saturday, March 11, 1922
ELIJAH A. BRIGGS CIVIL WAR VETERAN DIED HERE FRIDAY
Well Known G.A.R. Member Succumbed to Illness Of Few Days – 78 Years Old
WILL BE BURIED MONDAY
Was Possessor Of Congressional Medal Of Honor For Bravery – Captured Rebel Flag
Elijah A. Briggs, aged 78 years, one of the few surviving members of Howland Post, Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.), passed away at his home, 33 Maple Street, yesterday afternoon shortly after three o’clock following an illness of only a few days.
Mr. Briggs had led an unusually active life and had seldom been ill for any length of time. On Thursday afternoon, he was taken suddenly ill but seemed to recover under treatment administered by Dr. Keating. Yesterday, he was stricken again with the same trouble, and despite all that medical aid could do for him, he answered the final call of death. He was a victim of the harding of the arteries that lead to the heart.
The news of the death of this well-known Civil War veteran and prominent resident of the community was heard in Beacon with sincere sorrow, for Mr. Briggs was widely known in Beacon and well-liked by all with whom he came in contact.
The deceased was born on the 26th day of October 1843 at Lime Rock, Litchfield County, Connecticut, and spent his boyhood days in that county getting his education at the Lime Rock School. When the Civil War broke out, Mr. Briggs had not yet reached his eighteenth year, yet he was filled with the emotion of patriotism that pervaded the country and immediately enlisted to fight for the preservation of the Union.
He enlisted on the 18th day of July 1862 from Litchfield County, Connecticut, to serve three years during the war and was mustered into United States service on the 23rd day of July 1862, at Litchfield Hill, Connecticut, as a private of Captain James Hubbard’s Company B, 19th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers, second artillery, Colonel Leverett W. Wessell, later Colonel Elisha S. Kellogg commanding,
This second artillery was recruited in Litchfield and served as infantry until November 23rd, 1863 when it was changed to an artillery regiment. Gallant and faithful duty was performed by the Connecticut division of which Mr. Briggs was a member and, during the war, lost four hundred and twenty-seven men and officers by death while in service.
The deceased was promoted to Corporal while serving in the gallant army and then to Sergeant and was at all times with his command, except when he was wounded by a gunshot in the forehead at Cold Harbor, Virginia, June 12th, 1864, from the effects of which he was absent for a few weeks, but declined to go to the hospital.
One of Mr. Briggs’ most valued possessions was the Congressional Medal of Honor, which was presented to him on account of his meritorious service and bravery in capturing a rebel flag at the battle of Sailors Creek on the 6th day of April 1865.
When the war was at an end, Sergeant Briggs took part in the review of the Union’s troops at Washington, and on the 7th day of July 1865, he was given his honorable discharge by reason of the end of the war.
Immediately after receiving his discharge, Sergeant Briggs returned to his home at Lime Rock, Connecticut, where he resided for a few years. He then came to the former village of Matteawan (New York), where on the 24th day of June 1874, he was united in marriage to H. Elizabeth Montfort, who survives him, and one daughter, Mrs. William Hamburger. Also, three grandchildren.
He was a member of Howland Post, No. 48, G.A.R., and during his life, held all the offices in the Post. He was also a member of Evergreen Lodge, No. 131, I.O.O.F., and of the First M.E. Church.
Funeral services over the remains will be held at the late home on Maple Street Monday afternoon at two-thirty o’clock and will be conducted by Reverend A.A. Vradenbburgh of the First M.E. Church. Military honors will be given the remains.
Interment will be made in the Fishkill Rural Cemetery.
Undertaker Frederick L. Roosa will direct the funeral arrangements.
Buried in Fishkill Rural Cemetery, 801 US-9, Fishkill, New York; Section D, Plot 406. Photos by the Jeff DeWitt.
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