ABOVE AND BEYOND

by Major Loren Schave

      It was discovered recently that a member of our command received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Civil War.  Andrew N. Embler was born in Montgomery, N. Y. on June 28, 1834. In 1855 he became a member of the New York State Militia, serving with the 71st N.Y.S.M., Lieutenant of the 82nd Regiment New York Volunteers and later as Captain of Company "D" , 59th New York Infantry. He was wounded at the Battle of Bull Run and later fought at Antietam, the Wilderness, Cold Harbor and Boydton Plank Road.

     In 1893, he was awarded the Medal of Honor for his action on October 27, 1864 at Boydton Plank Road (near Petersburg. VA). The Citation reads as follows "He charged at the head of two regiments which drove the enemy's main body, gained the crest of the hill near Burgess House and forced a barricade on the Boydton Road." He concluded his service by being present at the surrender of General Lee at Appomattox.

     After the war he resumed his former business in Hartford where, in 1877, he joined the First Company Governor's Foot Guard. He served as Major, commanding from Feb. 28, 1881 to Jan 30, 1882. In 1890, he was appointed Adjutant General of the State of Connecticut and served until 1894.

     The information for this account was taken from "History - First Company Governor's Foot Guard 1771 - 1902" and materials obtained from the National Guard Armory, Hartford, Connecticut.

 

February 22, 2004

This article was originally printed in "Battalion Review"
Used with permission

 

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