Robert J. Patterson's Medal of Honor at Cold Harbor

Dec 20 , 2025

Robert J. Patterson's Medal of Honor at Cold Harbor

Robert J. Patterson stood firm amid a thunderous hail of bullets. The air thick with smoke, men screaming, the earth torn to shreds—he was the last barrier between chaos and slaughter. His regiment faltered, breaking under relentless Confederate fire near Cold Harbor. But Patterson, cold and unyielding, grabbed the ragged flag, rallied the faltering lines, and faced down death itself to save them. In that crucible, a soldier was forged—not by glory, but by grit.

Background & Faith

Born in rural Ohio in 1838, Patterson’s roots dug deep into simple hard work and unshakable faith. Raised on Scripture and the sweat of family fields, he carried a warrior’s heart tempered by a shepherd’s soul. His belief in justice wasn’t wrapped in politics but baptized in the cadence of the Psalms and Proverbs he knew by heart. Patterson lived by one creed: stand your ground, protect your brothers, and trust God’s providence even when the weight of hell presses down.

At enlistment in 1861, Patterson joined Company B, 42nd Ohio Infantry—a unit known for its steadfastness in the blood-soaked fields of Virginia. His fellow soldiers called him "the rock," a man who carried more than a rifle—he bore the heavy burden of hope.

“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” — 1 Corinthians 16:13

The Battle That Defined Him

June 3, 1864. Cold Harbor. The Union Army’s bloodiest gamble yet.

Union forces, pinned behind breastworks, faced a near-suicidal Confederate onslaught. The 42nd Ohio was on the front line, trenches dug shallow, defenses breaking with every wave. When the color sergeant fell, the enemy pressed close. Panic clawed at the men as Confederate sharpshooters and artillery turned the field into a slaughterhouse.

Without hesitation, Patterson leapt from cover, seizing the regiment’s colors. Amid screams and the whistling storm of rifles, he planted the flag high; a beacon to lost souls sinking under the assault. His voice thundered orders—sharpened by desperation.

Witnesses say he charged into no man’s land, rallying shattered squads, stopping their flight with sheer force of will. Patterson endured wounds, dirt and blood caking his uniform, never once loosening his grip on that flag or his resolve.

Many died that day. Many more would carry their scars forever. But because of Patterson, their regiment held the line.

Recognition

In 1891, the Medal of Honor came with quiet ceremony. Not for glory, but recognition long overdue—official honor for a day when ordinary courage tipped history’s scales.

His citation reads:

“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty, in action near Cold Harbor, Virginia, June 3, 1864. Sergeant Patterson seized the colors after the color sergeant was shot, rallied the men and held the line under intense enemy fire, saving the regiment from destruction.”[1]

General William T. Sherman called the 42nd Ohio “a band of brothers saved by the steady hand of their brother-in-arms.” Patterson’s comrades described him as “the heart that would not break.”

Legacy & Lessons

Patterson’s story isn’t about medals or parades. It’s about the raw, brutal edge of sacrifice—the kind that scars you deeper than flesh. How many others bore witness to the same hell, unseen and unsung? His unwavering stand serves as a testament: in war, courage can be a single man’s burden, shouldered for many.

He lived the rest of his days quietly, teaching his children what real strength meant—the honor of sacrifice and the peace found in faith. Patterson’s legacy humbles us. Courage isn’t the absence of fear but the daily decision to stand strong anyway. Redemption lives in those moments when flesh fails but spirit endures.

“Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me.” — Psalm 23:4

Today, his blood-stained banner flies in memory. A stark reminder that every veteran’s story carries the weight of countless battles—both outside and within.

Robert J. Patterson showed us the cost of holding the line—so that others may live free. His sacrifice is the gospel of grit written in courage’s own hand.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: Civil War (P–Z) 2. Ohio History Connection, 42nd Ohio Infantry Regiment Records 3. Bruce Catton, Grant Moves South (1960) 4. James M. McPherson, Battle Cry of Freedom (1988)