Robert J. Coffey

Sergeant Robert John Coffey (December 15, 1842 – July 9, 1901) was a Canadian soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Coffey received the United States' highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action during the Battle of Salem Church in Virginia on 4 May 1863. He was honored with the award on 13 May 1892.[1][2]

Robert J. Coffey
The Vermonter magazine, June 1897
Born(1842-12-15)December 15, 1842
Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
DiedJuly 9, 1901(1901-07-09) (aged 58)
Bennington, Vermont
Buried
Green Mount Cemetery, Montpelier, Vermont
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service1861 - 1864
RankSergeant
UnitVermont 4th Regiment, Vermont Volunteer Infantry
Battles/warsBattle of Salem Church
Awards Medal of Honor

Biography

Coffey was born in Saint John, New Brunswick, on 15 December 1842. At the outbreak of the war he first enlisted into the 2nd Vermont Volunteer Regiment on 3 May 1861, serving for three months. He mustered into the 4th Vermont Infantry on 10 September of that year. He was promoted to 3rd Sergeant within this company and participated in several battles including the Siege of Yorktown (1862), Battle of Antietam, Battle of Gettysburg, Battle of Fredericksburg and the Battle of Funkstown. On 4 May 1863 he performed an act of bravery during the Battle of Salem Church, for which he earned a Medal of Honor.[3]

Following the war Coffey married Demis Hattie Burnham, with whom he had one child. He was involved in the hotel business in several Vermont towns and also worked as a traveling salesman. When the Vermont Soldiers' Home was established in Bennington in 1887, the board of trustees unanimously chose him to serve as its first superintendent. He was also a longtime member of the Vermont National Guard and attained the rank of colonel as a member of Governor Urban A. Woodbury's military staff.

Coffee died in Bennington on July 9, 1901, and his remains are interred at Green Mount Cemetery in Montpelier, Vermont.[3][4]

Medal of Honor citation

Single-handedly captured 2 officers and 5 privates of the 8th Louisiana Regiment (Confederate States of America).[1][2]

See also

References
  1. "Civil War (A-L) Medal of Honor Recipients". Retrieved 28 October 2013.
  2. "Robert J. Coffey". Retrieved 28 October 2013.
  3. "Robert John Coffey". Retrieved 28 October 2013.
  4. "Biography, Coffey, Robert John". Soldier Biographies. Vermont in the Civil War. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
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