Robert J. Patterson’s Medal of Honor for Saving His Regiment

Nov 20 , 2025

Robert J. Patterson’s Medal of Honor for Saving His Regiment

Robert J. Patterson’s boots sank deep in the muddy earth near Fort Harrison. Smoke choked the horizon. The Confederate guns roared like hell itself. His regiment teetered on collapse—fear snarling in every eye. But Patterson did not flinch. Amid a hailstorm of bullets, he surged forward, rallying the wavering line with a grit forged in fire. He saved them all that day.

The Faith and Formative Years

Born in New York, Patterson came from humble roots—frontier grit mixed with a farmer’s relentless work ethic. Raised with scripture etched into his bones, he found strength in Romans 5:3-4:

“We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character.”

This was no empty platitude. It was a code. A warrior’s creed that shaped how he stood when hell broke loose. His faith was his fortress, his moral compass amid the chaos of war.

The Battle That Defined Him: Fort Harrison, September 29, 1864

The Union assault on Fort Harrison, part of the Petersburg Campaign, was brutal and decisive. Confederate forces poured lead and iron down on the attackers. Patterson was with the 9th New York Heavy Artillery, converted infantry. Their line cracked under relentless fire.

When the order faltered, Patterson stepped into the breach. Under heavy musketry, he grabbed the colors—the regiment’s flag. A shot to the shoulder did not slow him. He shouted for men to hold their ground. The colors are more than fabric; they’re a lifeline in battle.

His courage was the anchor that held the regiment’s line that day—turning retreat into steadfast resistance. His actions bought critical time to reorganize defenses. Patterson’s leadership under fire is credited with saving his regiment from rout.

Recognition: Medal of Honor Citation

For extraordinary heroism, Patterson was awarded the Medal of Honor. His citation reads:

“Although severely wounded, Sergeant Patterson personally rallied his regiment under heavy enemy fire, holding the position and preventing the collapse of the line.”[1]

Leaders and comrades remembered him as unyielding—“the man who stood when all others faltered.” His silence in battle spoke louder than words. His scars were the pages where courage was written.

Legacy: Courage Beyond the Battlefield

Robert J. Patterson’s story is not just about medals or fleeting glory. It’s about enduring. His example teaches that true valor is found in holding the line when every instinct screams to run. In the darkest hour, faith and will can become weapons sharper than any rifle.

He endured the storm not for himself—but for the men beside him. His legacy lives in every veteran who grits teeth against impossible odds and in every citizen who honors sacrifice over comfort.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” —Joshua 1:9

Patterson’s story is a beacon—reminding us that courage is never the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The battlefield leaves scars, but also stories that outlast time. Stories that say, no matter the struggle, redemption waits in steadfastness.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: Civil War 2. Bonekemper, Edward H. Jr., A Victor, Not a Butcher: Ulysses S. Grant’s Overlooked Military Genius 3. Official Records of the War of the Rebellion, Series 1, Volume 44, Part I