Rufus King Jr.

For other people named Rufus King, see Rufus King (disambiguation).

Rufus King, Jr.
King after the American Civil War
Born	(1838-03-21)March 21, 1838 New York City, New York
Died	March 18, 1900(1900-03-18) (aged 61)
Allegiance	United States of America Union
Service / branch	United States Army Union Army
Rank	Major
Unit	Company F, 7th New York Militia
Battles / wars	American Civil War
Awards	Medal of Honor

Rufus King, Jr. (March 21, 1838 – March 18, 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 August 5, 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 June 30, 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 March 18, 1900.

The Medal of Honor

King during the American Civil War

On March 22, 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., June 30, 1862. Entered service at: New York. Birth: New York. Date of issue: April 2, 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.

See also

• List of Medal of Honor recipients
• List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: G–L

References

• "American Memory: Selected Civil War Photographs. Library of Congress. Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D.C." Retrieved October 5, 2010.
• 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.

External links

• "Rufus King, Jr., 'The Medal of Honor'".