Joseph Van Matre was a United States Army

United States Army

The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...

 soldier who received the Medal of Honor

Medal of Honor

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...

 for his actions during the American Civil War

American Civil War

The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...

.

Biography

Joseph Van Matre was born on October 9, 1828 in Mason County, (West) Virginia

Mason County, West Virginia

As of the census of 2000, there were 25,957 people, 10,587 households, and 7,569 families residing in the county. The population density was 60 people per square mile . There were 12,056 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...

. He was a member of the 116th Ohio Infantry

116th Ohio Infantry

The 116th Ohio Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 116th Ohio Infantry was organized Marietta and Gallipolis, Ohio and mustered in September 18, 1862 for three years service under the command of Colonel James Washburn...

 during the American Civil War

American Civil War

The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...

 and was awarded the Medal of Honor on April 2, 1865 during the Third Battle of Petersburg

Battle of Petersburg III

The Third Battle of Petersburg, also known as the Breakthrough at Petersburg or the Fall of Petersburg, was a decisive Union assault on the Confederate trenches, ending the ten-month Siege of Petersburg and leading to the fall of Petersburg and Richmond, Virginia.-Fort Mahone:The Union IX Corps...

. During the assault on Fort Gregg, Van Matre climbed upon the parapet and fired down into the fort as fast as the loaded guns could be passed to him. He died on January 14, 1892 and is buried in Riverview Cemetery in Middleport, Ohio

Middleport, Ohio

Middleport is a village in Meigs County, Ohio, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 2,525 at the 2000 census.Middleport was the home of Walter "Mother" Watson, a Major League Baseball pitcher.-Geography:...

. His grave can be found in Section 1, Lot 208.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Private, Company G, 116th Ohio Infantry. Place and date: At Petersburg, Va., April 2, 1865. Entered service at: ------. Birth: Mason County, W. Va. Date of issue: May 12, 1865.

Citation:

In the assault on Fort Gregg, this soldier climbed upon the parapet and fired down into the fort as fast as the loaded guns could be passed up to him by comrades.

See also

• List of Medal of Honor recipients
• List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: T–Z