John H. Hays
John H. Hays | |
|---|---|
 Hays in 1895 | |
| Born | August 4, 1844 Jefferson County, Ohio |
| Died | January 27, 1904 (aged 59) Troy, Idaho |
| Buried | Moscow Cemetery, Moscow, Idaho |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/ |  United States Army |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit |  Company F, 4th Iowa Volunteer Cavalry Regiment |
| Battles/wars | Civil War |
| Awards |  Medal of Honor |
| Spouse(s) |
Nancy Cox (m. 1868) |
John Henry Hays (4 August 1844 – 27 January 1904) was a veteran of the American Civil War and recipient of the Medal of Honor.
Biography[edit]
Hays was born in Ohio, but moved to the state of Iowa at the age of fifteen. He worked on his family's farm for the next three years. In 1862, Hays volunteered to join the Union Army. He was injured multiple times throughout the war, surviving a gunshot wound to his left thumb and being struck by debris from a falling bridge.[1]
Battle of Columbus[edit]
On April 16, 1865, seven days following the surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee at Appomattox Court House, Hays marched on Columbus, Georgia to secure the city's naval yards, weapons factories and supply depots. During the ensuing battle, Hays stormed a bridge over the Chattahoochee River and helped to capture a fort guarding it. During the battle for the fort, Hays captured the flag and the flag bearer of an Austin Battery stationed there. He received the Medal of Honor for this act.[1]
Citation[edit]
Capture of flag and bearer Austin's Battery (C.S.A.).[2]
Later life[edit]
Hays returned to his family farm following the conclusion of the Civil War. However, he left to open a blacksmith shop in Greenfield, Iowa in 1868. He later moved to Troy, Idaho in 1888 and opened a new blacksmith shop. The shop was ultimately destroyed in a fire. Hays began prospecting following the destruction of his shop and experienced some success at mining for silver. In 1894, Hays was appointed City Marshall of Troy.[1]
Death[edit]
On January 27, 1904, Hays attempted to arrest Paine Sly for domestic disturbance. Sly killed Hays in the ensuing shoot-out. Although fatally wounded, Hays returned fire and was able to injure Sly. Sly was later convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.[3][failed verification]
See also[edit]
Notes[edit]
- ^ a b c "Pvt. John Henry Hays". State Historical Society of Iowa. Archived from the original on 18 May 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
- ^ "HAYS, JOHN H." Home of Heroes. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
- ^ "Marshal John Henry Hays, Troy Police Department, Idaho". The Officer Down Memorial Page, Inc. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
External links[edit]
"John H. Hays". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
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- 1844 births
- 1904 deaths
- American Civil War recipients of the Medal of Honor
- American police officers killed in the line of duty
- Deaths by firearm in Idaho
- 1904 murders in the United States
- People from Greenfield, Iowa
- People from Jefferson County, Ohio
- People from Latah County, Idaho
- People murdered in Idaho
- Union Army soldiers
- United States Army Medal of Honor recipients
- American Civil War biography stubs