DOB/DOD: March 3, 1843 (Tullamore, County Offaly, Ireland *) – September 18, 1928 (Winchester, CT); 85 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Married Etta D. Bartlett Horne (1852-1930) in 1872.
CHILDREN: One son, Frank B. (1873-1874). One daughter, Belle B. Horne Lawton (1872-1954).
ENLISTMENT: April 22, 1861, in Winsted, Connecticut
DISCHARGE: Mustered out on November 17, 1864.
* There are inconsistencies regarding where Colonel Horne was born. On his 1899 passport application, he listed “Farbane, Kings County, Ireland.” His death certificate lists “Tullamore, Ireland.”
FAMILY: Born to Anthony (1808-1873) and Ann Horne (1808-1892). One sister, Matilda Horne Abel (1839-1897). Three brothers, William A. (1840-1918), John J. [Civil War veteran] (1845-1915), and Robert E. (1849-1914).
OTHER: After he enlisted in 1861, he quickly rose through the enlisted ranks to First Sergeant. He subsequently was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in August 1863. He was wounded in September 1862 at Antietam, June 1864 at Cold Harbor, Virginia, and again at Chapin’s Farm, Virginia, in September 1864. He was discharged due to those wounds in November 1864.
MEDAL OF HONOR CITATION
AWARDED FOR ACTIONS DURING: Civil War
BRANCH OF SERVICE: Army
UNIT: Company H, 11th Connecticut Infantry
DATE OF ISSUE AND PRESENTATION: November 19, 1897 (33 years later)
AGE ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT: 21
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Captain (Infantry) Samuel Belton Horne, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 29 September 1864, while serving with Company H, 11th Connecticut Infantry, in action at Fort Harrison, Virginia. While acting as an Aide and carrying an important message, Captain Horne was severely wounded and his horse killed, but he delivered the order and rejoined his general.
From Beyer, W. F., & Keydel, O. F. (2000). Deeds of valor: How America’s Civil War Heroes won The Congressional Medal of Honor. Smithmark Publishers.
A MESSAGE DELIVERED UNDER DIFFICULTY
With two dangerous wounds in his body, Lieutenant Samuel B. Horne of Company H, Eleventh Connecticut Infantry, was carried off the field at Cold Harbor, Virginia, on June 3, 1864, and sent to a hospital. Though his recovery proceeded slowly, he could not bear to be confined to his bed and three months later returned to his regiment, though still an invalid. Ten days later, at Chapin’s Farm, Virginia, on September 29, 1864, he won his medal by a display of courage almost superhuman. It happened thus: Upon his return to the regiment, he was attached to the staff of General Ord as aide-de-camp and, during the attack on Fort Harrison, was sent to deliver a verbal message to the colonel of one of the advancing regiments.
“Though my injuries still pained me very much, I obeyed the order cheerfully,” Lieutenant Horne goes on to tell. “I spurred my horse forward and soon came within range of the enemy’s guns. While going at full gallop, my horse was killed by grapeshot and fell upon me with crushing weight, cracking some of my ribs, injuring me internally, and pinioning me to the ground. Here, I lay perfectly helpless and suffering intense pain until Colonel Wells rode up and relieved me from my precarious position. Still, the message had to be delivered, and although lacerated, in great pain, and partly denuded, I proceeded on foot to carry out my mission. I could only advance slowly and with difficulty and had to pass under the very guns of the fort before I reached the colonel of the advancing regiment. I reported to General Ord and was with him when he was wounded on the parapet and with him was taken to the rear.”
Samuel Horne, writing under the letterhead of ‘Peck & Horne, Counselors at Law and Solicitors in Chancery of Grand Rapids, Michigan’ on April 5th, 1870, commenced a claim for compensation in respect of his Civil War service as he had not been correctly recorded as Captain nor paid in recognition of his promotion to the rank of Captain. His rank was officially corrected under Special Order No. 282, Headquarters of the Army, on December 9, 1885. The financial reimbursement for such rank was rectified in the 54th Congress by Bill H.R.7696 in the House of Representatives on March 27, 1896, and S.2720 in the Senate on April 2, 1896.
Horne received a letter from the Secretary of War dated November 4, 1897, which stated, “You are hereby notified that by direction of the President and under provisions of the Act of Congress approved March 3, 1863, providing for the presentation of Medals of Honor to such officers, non-commissioned officers and privates as have most distinguished themselves in action, a Congressional Medal of Honor has this day been presented to you for Most Distinguished Gallantry in Action, the following being a statement of the particular service, viz: At Fort Harrison, Virginia, September 29th, 1864, this officer, then serving as First Lieutenant 11th Connecticut Volunteers, and acting as aide-de-camp to General Ord, while carrying an important message on the field was wounded and his horse killed; but notwithstanding his severe wounds and sufferings, he continued on his way, delivered the order, and then joined his General but had to be taken to the rear on account of injuries received. The medal will be forwarded by registered mail as soon as it shall have been engraved.”
In fact, it was sent on November 19 and received by Horne on November 23, 1897.
On January 31, 1908, the War Department advised Horne that he was to be issued with another Medal of Honor of the new design to be engraved,
The Congress To
Captain Samuel B. Horne
Co. H, 11th Conn. Inf. Vols
Fort Harrison, Va.
Sept. 29, 1864.
The new medal was sent to him on February 21, 1908, and received on March 2, 1908.
Buried in Forest View Cemetery, 171 Rowley Street, Winsted, Connecticut; Section F. Photos by Jeff DeWitt.
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