George H. Maynard Explained

George Henry Maynard
Birth Date:2 February 1836
Birth Place:Waltham, Massachusetts
Death Place:Waltham, Massachusetts
Placeofburial:Mount Feake Cemetery Waltham, Massachusetts
Placeofburial Label:Place of burial
Allegiance:United States of America
Union
Branch:United States Army
Union Army
Rank:Brevet Major
Unit: Company D, 13th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Battles:American Civil War
Awards:Medal of Honor

George H. Maynard (February 2, 1836 - December 26, 1927) was a Union Army soldier in the American Civil War who received the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.[1]

Early life

Maynard was born in Waltham, Massachusetts, on February 2, 1836. He was the son of Warren and Nancy (Holden) Maynard. He attended public schools in Waltham and became a jeweler's apprentice in Boston at the age of 15. He continued in this trade until he enlisted in the Union Army following the outbreak of the Civil War.[2]

Military service

Maynard enlisted as a private in Company D of the 13th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry on July 20, 1861. He fought at the Battle of Fredericksburg in Virginia on December 13, 1862. During the battle he ran through enemy fire to rescue another soldier who had been severely wounded in action. He received the Medal of Honor for this action in 1898. He was mustered out of the 13th Massachusetts on February 17, 1863.[2]

On January 17, 1864, he was commissioned a captain in the 82nd United States Colored Infantry. He was breveted to the rank of major on March 15, 1865, for meritorious service during the war. He was honorably mustered out of service on September 10, 1866.[2]

Later life

Maynard married Harriet Elizabeth Henry (1844–1897) of Boston on May 5, 1868. They had seven children, four of whom died in childhood and three who died in their early twenties (and only one of whom survived his mother).[3]

He became a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts in 1875. He became the first sergeant of the company in 1879.[2] Maynard was an active mason and became a Knight Templar in the York Rite. He was also a companion of the Massachusetts Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States.[2]

Maynard died in 1927, at the age of 91 having outlived his wife and all his children and was buried in the Mount Feake Cemetery in Waltham.[4]

Medal of Honor citation

A wounded and helpless comrade, having been left on the skirmish line, this soldier voluntarily returned to the front under a severe fire and carried the wounded man to a place of safety.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Medal of Honor Recipients. United States Army Center of Military History. 7 April 2015. 11 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201111202627/https://history.army.mil/moh/civilwar_mr.html#MAYNARD. dead.
  2. History of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts, 1637-1888. Oliver Ayer Roberts. Alfred Mudge and Son. Boston. 1901.
  3. Web site: George Henry Maynard . www.findagrave.com . 8 June 2020.
  4. Web site: Waltham Civil War Veteran honored for his heroic actions . Waltham News Tribune . 22 May 2009 . 19 February 2015.
  5. Web site: George H. Maynard . CMOHS Website . 19 February 2015.