James Frank Adams was a Union Army

Union Army

The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...

 soldier in the American Civil War

American Civil War

The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...

 who received the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor

Medal of Honor

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...

.

Adams was born in Cabell County, West Virginia

Cabell County, West Virginia

As of the census of 2000, there were 96,784 people, 41,180 households, and 25,490 families residing in the county. The population density was 344 people per square mile . There were 45,615 housing units at an average density of 162 per square mile...

. While a Private

Private (rank)

A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...

 in Company D of the 1st West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry Regiment

1st West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry Regiment

The 1st West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 1st West Virginia Cavalry was organized at Wheeling, Clarksburg, and Morgantown in western Virginia between July 10 and November 25, 1861.An analysis of...

, he captured the flag of the 14th Virginia Cavalry

14th Virginia Cavalry

The 14th Virginia Volunteer Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment raised in Virginia for service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It fought mostly with the Army of Northern Virginia....

 during an engagement on November 12, 1864, at Nineveh, Virginia. His Medal of Honor was issued two weeks later, on November 26. Another 1st West Virginia Cavalry soldier, Sergeant Levi Shoemaker

Levi Shoemaker

Levi Shoemaker was a Union Army soldier during the American Civil War who received the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.-Military service:...

, also received the medal for capturing a Confederate flag during the skirmish.

He died at age 77 and was buried at Oaklawn Memorial Park in Barboursville, West Virginia

Barboursville, West Virginia

Barboursville is a village in Cabell County, West Virginia, United States. It is located near the second largest city in the state, Huntington. The population was 3,183 at the 2000 census....

.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Private, Company D, 1st West Virginia Cavalry. Place and date: At Nineveh, Va., November 12, 1864. Entered service at: ------. Birth: Cabell County, Va. Date of issue: November 26, 1864.

Citation:

Capture of State flag of 14th Virginia Cavalry (C.S.A.)

See also

• List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: A–F