George Maltby Love (1831 - 1887)

Born 1 Jan 1831 in Buffalo, Erie County, New York, United States

Ancestors

Died 15 Mar 1887 at age 56 in Buffalo, Erie County, New York, United States

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Biography

George Love was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Civilian Life

George Maltby Love was born on 1 Jan 1831 in Buffalo, Erie County, New York. He married Mary Shaw about 1866, and the couple had two children:

Ivy Marie Love

George Love

He died 15 Mar 1887 in Buffalo, Erie County, New York, and is buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo.

Civil War Service

On 9 May 1861, at the beginning of the War of the Rebellion, George Maltby Love enlisted as a three months' volunteer in the 21st New York Infantry. He was mustered in as the regiment's Sergeant Major on 20 May 1861 and served in that unit until 23 Aug 1861. He was then transferred to the 44th New York Infantry, where he was commissioned as a First Lieutenant, and was promoted to Captain and commander on 2 Jan1862. He led his troops in the siege of Yorktown and the battles of Hanover Court House and Malvern Hill. After his second term of service had expired, he transferred on 20 Aug 1862 to the 116th New York Volunteer Infantry. He was appointed Major on 5 Sep 1862, and commanded the regiment in the Department of the Gulf, where he was severely wounded during the Siege of Port Hudson, Louisiana. He was promoted to Colonel and commander of the 116th on 16 Jul 1863, replacing Colonel Edwin Payson Chapin, who was killed in action during that siege.

Colonel Love was in command of his men during the 19 Oct 1864 Battle of Cedar Creek, Virginia, the largest Civil War battle in the Shenadoah Valley. He captured the first Confederate flag taken during this battle, that of the 2nd South Carolina (Confederate States of America) Infantry. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on 6 Mar 1865, and was brevetted Brigadier General, U.S. Volunteers the next day, 7 Mar 1865. He was honorably mustered out of the volunteer service on 8 Jun 1865.

He enlisted in the Regular Army in 1867, being commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 11th United States Infantry. He was promoted to First Lieutenant on 1 Mar 1875, and engaged in garrison and frontier service. He retired on 15 Mar 1883, having received brevets up to Colonel in the U.S. Regular Army.

Medal of Honor

Awarded for actions during the Civil War

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Colonel (Infantry) George Maltby Love, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 19 October 1864, while serving with 116th New York Infantry, in action at Cedar Creek, Virginia, for capture of battle flag of 2d South Carolina (Confederate States of America).

General Orders: Date of Issue: March 6, 1865
Action Date: October 19, 1864
Service: Army
Rank: Colonel
Division: 116th New York Infantry

Sources

• George Maltby Love, Virtual American Biographies; URL: http://famousamericans.net/georgemaltbylove/
• 116th Infantry Regiment, Civil War; New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center, URL: http://dmna.ny.gov/historic/reghist/civil/infantry/116thInf/116thInfMain.htm
• "George Maltby Love," Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Web, accessed 23 May 2023. George M Love.