John Galloway

John had an older sister and three younger brothers as they grew up in the Southward section of Philadelphia. One brother, George Galloway, was also a Medal of Honor recipient whose grave is adjacent to his. Prior to their enlistment in 1861, John was a butcher and George was a brush maker. 

John served in Company H of the 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry and was wounded slightly in the right leg at Chancellorsville on May 2, 1863. He reenlisted December 31, 1863. 

His rank was changed to Commissary Sergeant on January 1, 1865 when he was transferred to Company S. Apparently his experience as a butcher led to working with food preparation. While commissary staff were removed from the front lines of battle, his story shows they still served as soldiers when necessary.

In John’s case, that’s exactly what happened as Union troops pursued the Confederates retreating from Richmond and Petersburg, Virginia. John’s moment of glory came two days before Lee’s surrender to Grant in Appomattox on April 9, 1865.

The citation given with John’s Medal of Honor reads: “The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Commissary Sergeant John Galloway, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 7 April 1865, while serving with 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry, in action at Farmville, Virginia. His regiment being surprised and nearly overwhelmed, Commissary Sergeant Galloway dashed forward under a heavy fire, reached the right of the regiment, where the danger was greatest, rallied the men and prevented a disaster that was imminent.”

His Medal was issued 32 years later, on October 30, 1897. His rank was ceremonially changed to 1st Lieutenant on July 1, 1865, then he was “mustered out” on July 24.

Returning to Philadelphia, John married Margaret Crowley in 1867, had eleven children, became a tavern keeper by 1880 and an art dealer by 1900. His death on May 23, 1904 came just three months after that of his brother George. (Read his Notable life story here.) 

Also buried at Mount Moriah are three of his children, one of whom was named after his uncle George. Another son, Francis, was buried in between his father and Uncle George, as shown below, along with his wife. They both died in 1964.