JAMESTOWN, NY – May 20, 2026 – The City of Jamestown and the Jamestown Veterans Commission are recognizing three Civil War Medal of Honor recipients interred at Lake View Cemetery. Their service reflects actions performed at the highest recognized level of military distinction in the United States Armed Forces.
The Medal of Honor is the nation’s highest military award, presented only for acts of conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. The individuals honored here did not serve in symbolic capacity; they executed decisive actions in active combat environments where outcomes were uncertain and risks were immediate and severe.
Edgar P. Putnam, Sergeant in Company D of the 9th New York Cavalry, distinguished himself on May 27, 1864, at Crumps Creek, Virginia. While conducting a reconnaissance mission with a small detachment, Putnam engaged and dispersed a significantly larger enemy force. He then pressed the advantage, charging a second enemy cavalry formation and capturing 27 prisoners. His actions reflect rapid tactical decision-making, aggressive execution, and effective leadership during active engagement with enemy forces.
Henri Le Fevre Brown, Sergeant in Company B of the 72nd New York Infantry and a native of Jamestown, demonstrated extraordinary determination during the Battle of the Wilderness on May 6, 1864. With Union forces critically low on ammunition and engaged under sustained fire, Brown repeatedly crossed exposed terrain to deliver ammunition to the front lines. His actions directly sustained combat effectiveness at a moment when battlefield positions were under severe strain and at risk of failure.
James M. Young, Private in Company B of the 72nd New York Infantry, also served with distinction during the Battle of the Wilderness. While conducting forward reconnaissance in heavily contested wooded terrain, his unit came under enemy fire and a fellow soldier was wounded and disabled. During active engagement, Young recovered the injured soldier and carried him back to Union lines, completing a casualty extraction under fire.
Together, these three individuals represent three distinct categories of battlefield valor: offensive cavalry action, sustained logistical resupply during engagement, and casualty recovery under fire. Each action directly influenced battlefield continuity and operational outcomes under combat conditions.
Their presence at Lake View Cemetery creates a direct and permanent connection between Jamestown and significant Civil War combat operations. Their service is not abstracted by time; it is preserved in the national military record and within the historic landscape of the community where they now rest.
The Jamestown Veterans Commission remains committed to ensuring these Medal of Honor recipients, along with more than 4,000 veterans interred at Lake View Cemetery, are formally recognized through ongoing commemorations, preservation efforts, and public education initiatives.
“Medal of Honor recipients represent the highest standard of military service under fire,” said Keith Ecklund, Chair of the Jamestown Veterans Commission. “These individuals acted decisively in conditions of extreme danger where their actions directly impacted the survival and effectiveness of fellow soldiers. Their legacy remains a defining example of courage and duty.”
As Memorial Day is observed, the City of Jamestown calls on residents to reflect on the sacrifice of military service and the acts of battlefield valor that shaped the course of American history. The legacy of Edgar P. Putnam, Henri Le Fevre Brown, and James M. Young remains permanently embedded in both national record and the local landscape of Jamestown.
