Axel Hayford Reed

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Sergeant Axel Hayford Reed, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 19 September 1863, while serving with Company K, 2d Minnesota Infantry. While in arrest at Chickamauga, Georgia, Sergeant Reed left his place in the rear and voluntarily went to the line of battle, secured a rifle, and fought gallantly during the two-day battle; was released from arrest in recognition of his bravery. At Missionary Ridge, Tennessee, on 15 November 1863, he commanded his company and gallantly led it, being among the first to enter the enemy’s works; was severely wounded, losing an arm, but declined a discharge and remained in active service to the end of the war.