Robert J. Patterson, Antietam Hero and Medal of Honor Recipient

Feb 06 , 2026

Robert J. Patterson, Antietam Hero and Medal of Honor Recipient

Robert J. Patterson’s name is inked in the blood of a battlefield resigned to chaos and smoke. The roar of musket fire, the crack of cannons, and the screaming winds of war stung his face as he surged forward—alone—against withering Confederate lines. His regiment faltered. Cannonballs scorched the earth. Men fell like grain before the sickle. But Patterson did not break. He became the steel in the storm.

The Making of a Soldier and a Man

Born in 1838, Patterson was a product of Pennsylvania soil—tough, grounded, and rooted in a faith that hardened more than just his bones. Raised in a devout Methodist household, his moral compass was sharpened by scripture and the sweat of honest labor. He believed that duty to God and country were inseparable. The old hymn "Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus" rang in his ears as he took up arms, knowing well the price would be paid in blood.

Patterson enlisted with the 104th Pennsylvania Infantry in 1862, driven by a sense of justice and a deep-seated resolve to preserve the Union. Comrades recall a man of quiet strength—never boastful, never reckless. His faith was his refuge in hellfire.

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” — Psalm 46:1

The Battle That Defined Him: Antietam, 1862

September 17, 1862. The Battle of Antietam—bloodiest single day in American history. Smoke choked the morning air. The Union forces pressed Shamrock Hill, a strategic position under enemy artillery fire. The 104th was on the brink of collapse, pinned down under searing volleys.

Patterson saw his men faltering, terrified and outgunned. He seized the regiment’s fallen colors—the flag waving like a beacon amid hell’s roar—and charged forward alone, rallying broken ranks. Under heavy fire, he carried the flag through grape and canister, refusing to let it touch the ground. His voice: thunder in the chaos, spurring weary soldiers back into line.

His actions planted a spark that turned despair to iron resolve. The regiment regrouped and repelled the Confederate assault. Patterson saved the regiment that day—at great personal risk.

Medal of Honor and the Weight of Valor

For his gallantry, Patterson received the Medal of Honor in 1897, decades after that fateful clash. The citation reads in resolute detail:

“For extraordinary heroism on 17 September 1862, while serving with Company B, 104th Pennsylvania Infantry, in action at Antietam, Maryland. Sgt. Patterson seized the colors after the color bearer was wounded, and with courageous determination, carried them forward under heavy fire, inspiring the troops to rally and maintain their position.”^[1]

Generals and comrades alike testified to his unwavering character. His commanding officer, Colonel George W. Alexander, remarked, “Patterson’s courage rekindled our spirit. He was the embodiment of the soldier’s creed—lead by example or fall.”

A Legacy Written in Blood and Redemption

Patterson’s story is not just one of battlefield heroism but of profound sacrifice and enduring faith under fire. He returned from war a changed man, bearing scars—the ones seen, and those buried deep in memory. He became a quiet pillar in his Pennsylvania community, ministering to veterans and advocating for remembrance.

True valor is measured not in medals but in the lives they save and the lives they touch.

His courage under fire reminds all who follow that while war scars the flesh, it can also forge the spirit.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.” — Matthew 5:9

Patterson’s legacy calls veterans and civilians alike to face their trials with grit, to hold fast to hope amidst despair, and to never let the flame of sacrifice die silent.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: Civil War (M-Z) 2. Antietam National Battlefield, Official Records and Unit Histories 3. “The 104th Pennsylvania Volunteers,” by Thomas J. Glover, 1887