Matthew Bickford received 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...

 for his actions during 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...

.

Biography

He was born in Peoria County, Illinois

Peoria County, Illinois

Peoria County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 186,494, which is an increase of 1.7% from 183,433 in 2000. Its county seat is Peoria....

 in 1839. He entered service at Trivolia, Peoria County, Illinois . He was a Corporal, in Company G, 8th Missouri Volunteer Infantry

8th Missouri Volunteer Infantry

The 8th Missouri Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union army during the American Civil War. Among its early leaders were Morgan Lewis Smith and Giles Alexander Smith, both of whom later became generals....

, 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...

. He received the Medal of Honor for Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party" at Vicksburg, Mississippi

Vicksburg, Mississippi

Vicksburg is a city in Warren County, Mississippi, United States. It is the only city in Warren County. It is located northwest of New Orleans on the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers, and due west of Jackson, the state capital. In 1900, 14,834 people lived in Vicksburg; in 1910, 20,814; in 1920,...

, May 22, 1863.

Bickford moved to Washington state around 1907. He died in 1918, and is buried in Bayview Cemetery in Bellingham, Washington.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Corporal, Company G, 8th Missouri Infantry. Place and date: At Vicksburg, Miss., May 22, 1863. Entered service at: Trivolia, Peoria County, Ill. Birth: Peoria County, Ill. Date of issue: August 31, 1894.

Citation:

Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party."

See also

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