Andrew J. Tozier
Andrew J. Tozier | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 11, 1838 Monmouth, Maine |
| Died | 1910 Litchfield, Maine |
| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Service | United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1865 |
| Rank | First Sergeant |
| Unit | 2nd Maine Infantry |
| Battles / wars | American Civil War |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
Andrew Jackson Tozier (February 11, 1838 – 1910) was a sergeant in the 2nd Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment and later the 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment who was awarded the Medal of Honor during the American Civil War.[1]
Biography
Andrew Jackson Tozier, Sr. was a United States Army First Sergeant during the American Civil War. He is best known as the color-bearer of the 20th Maine Regiment at the Battle of Gettysburg for which he later received the Medal of Honor.[1]
Born in the Purgatory area near the Monmouth/Litchfield line, Andrew was the fifth of seven children. When he was ten years old he moved with his family to Plymouth, Maine, to be near relatives. His father, John H. Tozier was an abusive alcoholic and Andrew ran away from home, perhaps to become a sailor, in his early teens.
In July 1861, Andrew returned home and enlisted from Plymouth in the 2nd Maine Infantry Regiment. In early 1862 he was promoted to corporal and at the Battle of Gaines Mill he was shot in the middle finger and the ankle. Tozier was captured when his regiment fell back and a Confederate surgeon removed the finger and the bullet in his ankle the next day. Tozier was sent to Belle Isle prison in Richmond, and then was paroled a few weeks later. In time, Tozier returned to his regiment and in late May 1863, he was transferred to Company I of the 20th Maine.
A month later, Tozier became the color bearer of his new regiment on the march to Gettysburg when his predecessor turned up drunk on the march and was arrested. Andrew was the most senior sergeant in the regiment owing to his previous service in the 2nd Maine which dated back to 1861. As the senior enlisted man, the honor of bearing the regimental colors fell to him.[2]
Notes
- ^ a b "Andrew Jackson Tozier". Retrieved 25 February 2016.
- ^ Desjardin, Thomas (1995). Stand Firm Ye Boys From Maine. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195382310.