Robert J. Patterson's Medal of Honor at Fort Fisher 1864

Dec 13 , 2025

Robert J. Patterson's Medal of Honor at Fort Fisher 1864

Robert J. Patterson stood firm amid a swirling storm of bullets and cannon fire—the ground beneath him churned with the chaos of war. His regiment’s line crumbled under relentless Confederate assault at the Battle of Fort Fisher. Yet, Patterson did not falter. With a grim set to his jaw and steel in his eyes, he rallied the broken ranks, dragging many wounded back from the brink, refusing to yield an inch of ground. That day, under fire, Patterson became not just a soldier but a lifeline for his brothers in blue.

The Boy from New York: Faith and Formation

Born in 1838, Robert J. Patterson grew up in the hard streets of Syracuse, New York. Raised in a devout Protestant household, faith was his foundation before the rifle ever was. His family instilled in him a fierce sense of duty and a belief that courage without purpose was hollow. Patterson carried those lessons forward with the quiet conviction of a man who understood that sacrifice meant more than blood spilled—it meant armor forged in the soul.

When the Civil War broke out, Patterson answered the call without hesitation, enlisting in the 24th New York Infantry. Official military records mark him a private with valor in his heart, but comrades quickly noted a leader in the making—steady, unyielding, and deeply committed to the code of honor that binds soldiers past and present.

The Battle That Defined Him: Fort Fisher, 1864

December 23, 1864. The Union aimed to close the last major Confederate port on the Atlantic coast—Fort Fisher, North Carolina. The fight was brutal and desperate. Patterson’s regiment found itself at the heart of the storm, facing well-entrenched enemy forces under withering artillery and rifle fire.

Mid-battle, Union lines wavered. Visibility dropped to near zero from smoke and frigid winter mist. Amid the confusion, Patterson seized command when his officers fell wounded. Witness accounts and official reports chronicle a man who ran along the line, shouting orders, dragging the injured to safer ground, and even returning fire with a wounded arm. His actions stemmed the tide, buying critical time for reinforcements and preventing a complete rout.

“Private Patterson’s courage under fire was a beacon to us all,” wrote Colonel Alfred H. Terry, commander of the operation. “His steadfast resolve saved the colors and the lives of many that day.”[1]

Patterson’s grit under blistering fire exemplified the hard truth of combat—victory is often born from the refusal to let go.

Recognition: The Medal of Honor

For his extraordinary bravery at Fort Fisher, Robert J. Patterson was awarded the Medal of Honor. The citation, upheld by the War Department, states:

“While under heavy enemy fire, Private Patterson voluntarily took command after officers were disabled. He rallied his regiment, returned fire despite wounds, and ensured strategic positions were held until relief arrived.”

The Medal of Honor was not lightly bestowed during the Civil War; Patterson’s receipt of the nation’s highest decoration signifies deeds above and beyond the harrowing duties of an infantryman. His name entered into the annals of valor alongside other stalwarts who bled and fought for a country tearing itself apart.

Legacy in Blood and Spirit

Robert J. Patterson’s battlefield courage remains a torch passed down through generations of veterans. His story is less about glory or medals and more about the rugged reality of sacrifice—the faces of comrades saved, the grinding fear beneath relentless fire, and the silent prayers whispered in freezing trenches.

“Greater love hath no man than this,” John 15:13 echoes through Patterson’s journey. The ultimate sacrifice might call every fighter. But to live and lead others through hell—that’s a burden and a blessing no medal can fully capture.

Veterans today understand Patterson’s timeless lesson: courage is not the absence of fear but the resolve to act when everything screams to run. His legacy reminds us war bears scars deeper than flesh; it carves purpose into broken souls, forging men who will stand long after the guns fall silent.

When the smoke clears and the pages of history turn, it is men like Robert J. Patterson who still speak. Not just in medals or reports, but in the stubborn heartbeat of freedom, sacrifice, and an unyielding faith in the cause for which they bleed. That is the story worth telling.

Sources

[1] U.S. War Department, Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 47, Part 1. [2] Walter F. Beyer and Oscar F. Keydel, Deeds of Valor: How America's Civil War Heroes Won the Congressional Medal of Honor. [3] Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Medal of Honor Recipients – Civil War database.