George Lewis Gillespie, Jr.
Born: October 7, 1841 at Kingston, Tennessee
Home Town: Chattanooga, Tennessee
Date of Issue: October 27, 1897
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to First Lieutenant (Corps of Engineers) George Lewis Gillespie, Jr., United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 31 May 1864, while serving with the Engineer Corps, in action at Bethesda Church, Virginia, in exposed himself to great danger by voluntarily making his way through the enemy’s lines to communicate with General Sheridan. While rendering this service First Lieutenant Gillespie was captured, but escaped; again came in contact with the enemy, was again ordered to surrender, but escaped by dashing away under fire.
