Andrew J. Lorish (November 8, 1832–August 11, 1897) was a Commissary Sergeant in the Union Army and a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions in the American Civil War.

Andrew J. Lorish
Born(1832-11-08)November 8, 1832
Dansville, Steuben County, New York, U.S.
DiedAugust 11, 1897(1897-08-11) (aged 64)
Warsaw, Wyoming County, New York, U.S.[1]
Place of burial
Forest Hill Cemetery, Attica, New York, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States of America
Union
Service/branchUnited States Army
Union Army
Years of service1862 - 1865
RankSecond Lieutenant
UnitNew York (state) 1st New York Dragoons
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War
AwardsMedal of Honor

Lorish joined the 1st New York Dragoons from Attica, New York in August 1862. He was promoted to regimental sergeant major the next month, but demoted to private before the end of the year. In October 1863 he became the regimental commissary sergeant. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in May 1865, and mustered out with his regiment in June.[2]

Lorish is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, Attica, New York.[3]

Medal of Honor citation edit

Rank and organization: Commissary Sergeant, 19th New York Cavalry (1st New York Dragoons). Place and date: At Winchester, Va., September 19, 1864. Entered service at:------. Born: November 8, 1832, Dansville, Steuben County, N.Y. Date of issue: September 27, 1864

Citation:

Amid the enemy he grabbed the flag from a color bearer who then called for help. When the bearer's comrades were readying their rifles he dashed directly at them securing their disarming. As he rode away, the Confederates picked up their guns firing at the captor of their flag.[4]

Sgt. Lorish was one of two members of the 1st New York Dragoons to receive the Medal of Honor in this action. The other was Corporal Chester B. Bowen. The flag that was captured by Bowen and Lorish was a CSA second national flag belonging to an unidentified unit in Col George S. Patton's Virginia Infantry Brigade. The flag is now in the possession of the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond, Virginia.[5]

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Profile, cmohs.org. Accessed September 14, 2022,
  2. ^ Regimental Roster, dmna.ny gov. Accessed September 14, 2022.
  3. ^ Congressional Medal of Honor Society, cmohs.org. Accessed September 14, 2022.
  4. ^ ""ANDREW J. LORISH" entry". Medal of Honor recipients: American Civil War. United States Army Center of Military History. June 8, 2009. Archived from the original on March 10, 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-13.
  5. ^ "Amazing Museums" (PDF). 12 May 2023.

References edit

  This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.

External links edit