Medal of Honor: Sgt. Edwin Leonard - West Springfield, MA

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Sgt. Edwin Leonard

West Springfield, MA

Topic: Medal of Honor Recipient

GPS: N42° 06.912; W072° 37.507

Quick Description: 

The grave of Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. Edward Leonard is located in the Meeting House Hill Cemetery in West Springfield, MA

Long Description:

Sergeant Edwin Leonard was born and entered into service from Agawam, MA and fought in the Union Army during the Civil War. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his action at the Battle of Petersburg, VA. on June 18, 1864. His grave is located at the extreme northwest corner of the old town cemetery that is officially called the Meeting House Hill Cemetery but locally known as the White Church Cemetery or the Elm Street Cemetery which is located northeast of the intersection of Kings Highway and Elm Street in West Springfield.

Seventeen men earned Medals of Honor for their heroism at Petersburg, Virginia, in the battle that raged from June 15 - 18, 1864. On June 18 Sergeant Edwin Leonard distinguished himself in action when a Union brigade erred and began firing on heir own skirmish line. Sergeant Leonard voluntarily exposed himself to fire from both sides in order to attract the attention of the brigade and halt their fire on his comrades.

Medal of Honor Headstone

A white marble gravestone has inscribed in the center of a shield the image of the Medal of Honor and the following inscription in gold lettering:

EDWIN LEONARD
MEDAL OF HONOR
SERG CO I
37 MASS INF Below the shield are the dates:


1822
1900

Family Headstone

GPS: N42° 06.897; W72° 37.488
A non-adjacent diamond shaped granite family headstone is inscribed:
EDWIN LEONARD 1822 - 1900 SERGT CO I 37 MASS. VOLS RACHEL A. HUGHES HIS WIFE 1825 - 1907
Citation 

LEONARD, EDWIN

Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company I, 37th Massachusetts Infantry. Place and date: Near Petersburg, Va., 18 June 1864. Entered service at: Agawam, Mass. Birth: Agawam, Mass. Date of issue: 16 August 1894. Citation: Voluntarily exposed himself to the fire of a Union brigade to stop their firing on the Union skirmish line.