Marshall Sherman

Marshall Sherman (1823-April 19, 1896) was a soldier from Minnesota who fought in the American Civil War. He received the United States' highest medal for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the battle of Battle of Gettysburg 3 July 1863. He was issued the medal on 1 December 1864.

Biography
Sherman was born in 1823 in Burlington, Vermont and enlisted into Company C, 1st Minnesota Infantry in St. Paul, Minnesoty.

While fighting in the Battle of Gettysburg on 3 July 1863, Private Sherman captured the flag of an opposing Confederate unit. Accounts of Sherman's actions during the battle differ; Sherman himself claims he saw a Confederate color bearer go down and a rebel lieutenant retrieve the flag, then turn back to rush Union forces. The lieutenant arrived at the Union lines alone, waving his flag and Sherman ran straight at the flag bearer until his bayonet-tipped rifle was inches from the man's chest. He then demanded the lieutenant throw down the flag and, after some hesitation, he complied and Sherman picked up the flag, took the man prisoner and marched him toward the rear as the nearest Union troops cheered.

Pvt. Daniel Bond, another soldier of the 1st Minnesota Infantry, remembered it differently. He stated the flag was already resting unclaimed, against a tree, and the capture of the flag was more of a foot race that Sherman won and he lost.

In the race for trophies, some Union soldiers ignored the chance to take prisoners and some officers pulled rank to wrest flags away from soldiers under their command. Of the 38 Confederate regimental flags that came within musket range of the wall, 30 were captured. Twenty-three Union soldiers won the Medal of Honor for the capture of flags during the three days at Gettysburg, and Rebels in far larger numbers were killed or wounded carrying or defending flags. For his actions during this battle, Sherman received the United States military's highest, and at that time only, medal for bravery in combat, the Medal of Honor. The medal was issued to him on 1 December 1864.

He died April 19, 1896 in Saint Paul, Minnesota and is buried in Oakland Cemetery. His grave can be found in block 41, Soldiers Rest, lot 77.