Although New Jersey is not credited with his Congressional Medal of Honor, Isaac Harrison Carman was born in Monmouth County, served honorably during the Civil War, and received the nation’s highest military honor for his bravery at Vicksburg, Mississippi.
A Corporal in Company A. 48th Ohio Infantry, Carman’s family apparently moved to that state during his youth and he was sworn into the Army as an Ohioan, though born in Monmouth County, New Jersey November 17, 1841.
The soldier joined the Infantry in September 1861 and was promoted to corporal May 1, 1863. Twenty-one days later, he was serving the Union in the Battle of Vicksburg. He had already served in battles at Shiloh, Holly Springs, Corinth, Chickasaw Bluffs Arkansas. Fort Gibson and Champion Hills as well as a time of detached service aboard the Gunboat Chillicothe in early 1863.
The Battle of Vicksburg is considered a major turning point in the Civil War. Coming one day after the Union victory at Gettysburg, the battle split the Confederacy in half. When General Pemberton, who had rebuffed General U S Grant’s “unconditional surrender” terms at Fort Donelson, Tennessee earlier, finally accepted the surrender terms at Vicksburg with parole for his army, it was July 4, 1863. For that reason, the town of Vicksburg did not celebrate Independence Day for 81 years.
With the taking of Vicksburg, the Confederacy had no further means of getting supplies or communications across the Mississippi River.
Carman’s company was part of the assault on the fort, the second major assault on Vicksburg. He was serving as color guard during the battle on May 22, 1863 and had been severely wounded in the leg by a bayonet. However, he was determined, successfully, to prevent the capture of his colors to the Confederate forces.
Recovering from his wounds. Carman continued serving with the army and was captured at the Battle of Mansfield. He was held as a prisoner of war from April 8, 1864 until Nov. 3, 1864 when he was part of a prisoner exchange. He was mustered out of service in December. 1864 and returned to his home in Ohio.
Cpl. Carman died in Fayette County, Ohio, and is buried at Washington Cemetery, Washington Courthouses, Ohio. His name, through poor Army record keeping, has been spelled both Carman and Carmen.
His Medal of Honor Citation Reads:
Saved his regimental flag; also seized and threw a shell, with burning fuse, from among his comrades.
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