Sidney Haight (August 21, 1847 – September 17, 1918) was awarded the Medal of Honor during the American Civil War for actions during the Siege of Petersburg.
Military service
On 23 October 1863, Haight lied about his age and said he was 17 (he had turned 16 in August)[1] and mustered into Federal service in Company E, of the 1st Michigan Volunteer Sharpshooters Regiment for three years.
On 2 February 1864, Haight was joined by his older brother James B who enlisted.[2] The brothers would serve together until Spotsylvania when Jim was wounded in the left arm.[3]
Haight was awarded the Medal of Honor during the debacle that was the Battle of the Crater. When the rebels counterattacked, "instead of retreating, remained in the captured works, regardless of his personal safety and exposed to the firing, which he boldly and deliberately returned until the enemy was close upon him." Haight was a Corporal serving with Company E, 1st Michigan Sharpshooters.[4] Haight was noticed by men for his courage and seeming invincibility, as he and a Native American comrade from Company K, Antoine Scott,[5] maintained a constant, accurate covering fire on the rebels until all who could have escaped. At that time, they also retreated.
The 18-year-old Haight was probably the very last Sharpshooter to leave the redoubt. As he fired his final shot, a rebel officer with sword upraised came at him, demanding his surrender. Haight lunged and rammed his bayonet into the Confederate. Not stopping to retrieve his weapon, Haight turned and bolted for the Union lines as fast as his legs could carry him. On his way across the shell-torn expanse of open ground he lost his cap and felt lead balls tear through the ends of his jacket. A bullet hit the heel of his shoe, ripping the sole back to within an inch of the toe; that sole flapped with every running step. The bullets spat around Haight until he dived into the Union trench out of breath, hatless, with a sole mostly pulled from his shoe, but safe and sound.[5]
Haight also participated in the recapture of the redoubt at the Battle of Fort Stedman where the 1st Michigan Sharpshooters, skirmishing for the 20th Michigan pinned down the rebels who had taken the for that they could not escape the counterattack and were taken prisoner.[6] Haight's conduct was so outstanding that he was again recommended for a Medal of Honor.[7]
Haight mustered out of Federal service with his regiment, 28 July 1865, still only seventeen-years-old. He married and had two sons: Elsworth Haight (1879–1917) and Benjamin Harrison Haight (1888–1957). He received the Medal of Honor for his heroic behavior in the Crater until the 1890s. He died on 17 September 1918, aged 71, survived by his brother James, who died in 1919, and his son Benjamin.[8]
Medal of Honor citation
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Corporal Sidney Haight, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 30 July 1864, while serving with Company E, 1st Michigan Sharpshooters, in action at Petersburg, Virginia. Instead of retreating, Corporal Haight remained in the captured works, regardless of his personal safety and exposed to the firing, which he boldly and deliberately returned until the enemy was close upon him.[9][4][10][11][12][13]
Notes
- ^ Dyer (1908), p. 1280; Herek (2008), p. 88; Millbrook (1966a), p. 45; Turner (1905).
- ^ Herek (2008), p. 88.
- ^ Herek (2008), p. 144; Millbrook (1966b), p. 77–78.
- ^ a b Sightline Media Group (2020).
- ^ a b Herek (2008), p. 227.
- ^ U.S. War Dept., Official Records, Vol. 46/1, p. 327 - March 27, 1865 Report of Capt. Ira L. Evans, First Michigan Sharpshooters, of operations March 25, p. 327
- ^ Herek (2008), p. 321; Millbrook (1966a), p. 47.
- ^ Herek (2008), p. 373; Millbrook (1966b), p. 79.
- ^ Subcommittee on Veterans' Affairs (1968), p. 106.
- ^ VCOnline (2020).
- ^ The National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation (2020).
- ^ CMOHS (2014).
- ^ ACMH (2014).
References
- "Medal of Honor Recipients". United States Army Center of Military History. Archived from the original on 2019-06-29. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
- Dyer, Frederick H (1908). A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. Des Moines, IA: Dyer Pub. Co. pp. 1280–1281. ASIN B01BUFJ76Q. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
- Herek, Raymond J (2008). These Men Have Seen Hard Service : The First Michigan Sharpshooters in the Civil War. Detroit MI: Wayne State University Press. p. 613. ISBN 9780814338322. LCCN 97024303. OCLC 1154897883. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
- Subcommittee on Veterans' Affairs, United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Labor and Public Welfare (1968). Edward M Kennedy, Chairman (ed.). Medal of Honor, 1863–1968 : "In the Name of the Congress of the United States". Committee print (United States. Congress), 90th Congress, 2nd session. Washington DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 1087. LCCN 76600969. OCLC 1049691780. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
- Turner, George H., ed. (1905). First Michigan Sharpshooters, First and Second U.S.Sharpshooters, Company D. Western Sharpshooters. Record of service of Michigan volunteers in the Civil War, 1861–1865. Vol. XLIV. Kalamazoo, Mi: Ihling Bros. & Everard. p. 42. LCCN 06000627. OCLC 933251848. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
- Millbrook, Minnie Dubbs (1966a). A Study in Valor: Michigan Medal of Honor Winners in the Civil War. Lansing, MI: Michigan Civil War Centennial Observance Commission. p. 155. ASIN B0006BNOQU. hdl:2027/mdp.39015071161064. LCCN 66065600. OCLC 79996844.
- Millbrook, Minnie Dubbs (1966b). Twice Told Tales of Michigan and Her Soldiers in the Civil War. Lansing, MI: Michigan Civil War Centennial Observance Commission. p. 84. ASIN B002FWFV1O. hdl:2027/mdp.39015011597856. LCCN 67063397. OCLC 885935.
- U.S. War Department (1893). Operations in Northern West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. January 1 – June 30, 1865.— Section 1 — Reports. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Vol. XLVI–LVIII–I–1. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. hdl:2027/coo.31924079575332. OCLC 427057.
- "Sidney Haight". The Hall of Valor Project. Sightline Media Group. 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
- "Sidney Haight". The Comprehensive Guide to the Victoria & George Cross. VCOnline. 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
- "Haight, Sidney". Congressional Medal of Honor Society. CMOHS. 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
- "Haight, Sidney". The National Medal of Honor Museum. The National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation. 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
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