How Robert J. Patterson Saved the 116th Ohio at Vicksburg

Feb 06 , 2026

How Robert J. Patterson Saved the 116th Ohio at Vicksburg

Robert J. Patterson stood knee-deep in chaos, musket smoke choking the air, death howling from every direction. His regiment faltered. Commanders fell. The line cracked. Without hesitation, Patterson surged forward, rallying the shattered ranks under relentless Confederate fire. He became the steel spine that refused to break. That day, his courage saved hundreds, and etched his name into the annals of Civil War valor.

Background & Faith: The Making of a Soldier

Born in 1840, Robert J. Patterson grew up in rural Ohio. Farmhands and preachers shaped his early years. A code of honor drilled deep, forged in the fires of faith and hard work. Patterson wasn’t some boy chasing glory; he was a man anchored by conviction and a profound sense of duty.

The Bible was his compass. Psalms and Proverbs lined his worn pocket, whispered between battles. His comrades remembered how Patterson carried a small Bible, often reading passages before engagement. Faith was no idle comfort but a foundation of courage. As Psalm 23 echoed in his heart—“Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil”—he pressed on into hell.

The Battle That Defined Him: Vicksburg, May 22, 1863

The Siege of Vicksburg was hell incarnate. Confederate sharpshooters took no prisoners. Union assaults ground into mud and blood. On May 22, 1863, during the second major attack, Patterson’s regiment—the 116th Ohio Infantry—charged Confederate earthworks with grim resolve.

Amidst withering fire, his commanding officers fell, leaving his company disarrayed. Panic threatened to break the line.

Patterson didn’t flinch.

He seized the regimental colors—the symbol of their honor—and hoisted it high, rallying the men behind him. With deliberate fury, he led a counter-attack, pushing back enemy sharpshooters. His voice cut through smoke and screams: “Hold your ground! For Ohio! For the Union!”

His grasp on that flag was more than symbolic—it was a lifeline.

Despite relentless volleys, Patterson moved like a man possessed. Wounded twice, he refused aid, dragging himself forward to shore up faltering ranks. His personal bravery inspired a renewed effort that stabilized the front, preventing a collapse and saving the regiment from annihilation.

Recognition: The Medal of Honor

For conspicuous gallantry at Vicksburg, Robert J. Patterson was awarded the Medal of Honor on August 31, 1894[1].

The citation reads:

“Though wounded, displayed extraordinary heroism by rallying a broken regiment under heavy fire and leading a counter-attack that prevented the enemy from overrunning the line.”

General Ulysses S. Grant himself noted the valor of the 116th Ohio Infantry, calling their steadfastness “a bulwark upon which the Union might stand firm”[2].

Brothers in arms remembered Patterson’s grit. Private James McAllister, wounded alongside him, later recalled:

“Patterson was the rock; where others faltered, he stood tall. His courage gave us hope when all seemed lost.”

Legacy & Lessons: The Cost and Crown of Valor

Robert J. Patterson’s story is etched in iron and blood. He bore more than wounds—he carried the weight of lives saved and lives lost.

His example teaches that leadership under fire is forged in sacrificial moments. When chaos reigns, victory clings to those who refuse to yield—even when fear screams to run.

Patterson’s faith, too, sanctified his sacrifice. Redemption wasn’t just a afterthought; it was purpose. He fought not for vengeance but to restore a broken nation.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

He lived that truth.

He returned from war scarred but unbroken, bearing the invisible wounds of battle and the visible burden of memory. His life reminds us all: courage demands sacrifice, and sacrifice demands remembrance.

In honoring Robert J. Patterson, we honor every soldier who stands in the breach, who raises the flag when others fall, who fights not just for survival—but for something worth living and dying for.

Let his story be a standard—and his scars, a sacred legacy.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History – Medal of Honor Recipients: Civil War (M–R) 2. Edwin C. Bearss, The Vicksburg Campaign, Volume II: The May 22 Assault, University of Nebraska Press, 1991