8 4 4 ▁– ▁January ▁ 1 3 , ▁ 1 9 0 4 ) ▁was ▁a ▁Union ▁Army ▁soldier ▁in ▁the ▁American ▁Civil ▁War ▁who ▁received ▁the ▁U . S . ▁military ' s ▁highest ▁decor ation , ▁the ▁Medal ▁of ▁Honor . ▁He ▁was ▁awarded ▁the ▁Medal ▁of ▁Honor , ▁for ▁extraordinary ▁hero ism ▁shown ▁on ▁May ▁ 2 4 , ▁ 1 8 6 4 , ▁while ▁serving ▁as ▁a ▁Private ▁with ▁Company ▁B , ▁ 4 th ▁Massachusetts ▁Vol unte er ▁Caval ry , ▁at ▁As he po o ▁River , ▁South ▁Carolina . ▁His ▁Medal ▁of ▁Honor ▁was ▁issued ▁on ▁January ▁ 2 1 , ▁ 1 8 9 7 . ▁ ▁G iff ord ▁was ▁born ▁in ▁D art mouth , ▁Massachusetts ▁on ▁September ▁ 1 8 , ▁ 1 8 4 4 , ▁and ▁joined ▁the ▁Army ▁in ▁December ▁ 1 8 6 3 . ▁ ▁He ▁was ▁transferred ▁to ▁the ▁Navy ▁in ▁June ▁ 1 8 6 4 , ▁and ▁was ▁dis charg ed ▁with ▁the ▁rank ▁of ▁Ord inary ▁se aman ▁in ▁August ▁ 1 8 6 5 . ▁▁ ▁G iff ord ▁died ▁at ▁the ▁age ▁of ▁ 5 9 , ▁on ▁January ▁ 1 3 , ▁ 1 9 0 4 ▁and ▁was ▁buried ▁at ▁the ▁South ▁D art mouth ▁C emetery ▁in ▁D art mouth , ▁Massachusetts . ▁ ▁Medal ▁of ▁Honor ▁c itation ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁External ▁links ▁ ▁Category : 1 8 4 4 ▁birth s ▁Category : 1