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Otis O. Roberts

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Sergeant

Otis O. Roberts
Born20 March 1842
Sangerville, Maine
Died8 February 1930
Dexter, Maine
Buried
Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Dexter, Maine
AllegianceUnited States (Union)
Service / branchArmy
RankSergeant
UnitCompany H, 6th Maine Infantry Regiment
Battles / warsSecond Battle of Rappahannock Station
AwardsMedal of Honor

Otis O. Roberts (20 March 1842 - 8 February 1930) was a Sergeant of the United States Army who was awarded the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the American Civil War. He was awarded the medal on 28 December 1863.[1][2]

Personal life

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Roberts was born on 20 March 1842 in Sangerville, Maine to parents Amos Roberts and Christiana Ryerson Roberts. He was one of three children. Roberts married three times, to Emelda J. Davis, Rosella Roberts, and Louise A. Hussey and fathered a total of four children. He died on 8 February 1930 in Dexter, Maine and was buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Dexter.[1]

Military service

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Roberts entered service in Dexter and served as a Sergeant with Company H of the 6th Maine Infantry. On 7 November 1863, at the Second Battle of Rappahannock Station, he engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the color bearer of the 8th Louisiana Infantry and was able to capture the unit's flag. For this action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor on 28 December 1863.[2][3][4]

Roberts' Medal of Honor citation reads:[2]

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Sergeant Otis O. Roberts, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 7 November 1863, while serving with Company H, 6th Maine Infantry, in action at Rappahannock Station, Virginia, for capture of flag of 8th Louisiana Infantry (Confederate States of America) in a hand-to-hand struggle with the Color Bearer.

— E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Otis O. Roberts (1842-1930) - Find A Grave..." www.findagrave.com. Retrieved 2021-04-05.
  2. ^ a b c "Otis Roberts - Recipient -". valor.militarytimes.com. Retrieved 2021-04-05.
  3. ^ "Otis O. Roberts | U.S. Civil War | U.S. Army | Medal of Honor Recipient". Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Retrieved 2021-04-05.
  4. ^ "Medal of Honor Citations Civil War Names of the letter O through R". www.americancivilwar.com. Retrieved 2021-04-05.