John Shilling

On November 13, 1861, he joined Co. H, 3rd Delaware Regiment. He was noted as being 5' 10" tall, light complexioned, grey eyes and light hair.

Shilling was promoted shortly after Fredericksburg (Dec 1962) to First Sergeant. The 3rd Delaware was then ordered to do garrison duty around Frederick, Maryland, and in the spring of 1864, they fought in the battle of Cold Harbor. Finally, they settled in on the seige of Petersburg, Virginia. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on 21 August 1864 at Weldon Railroad, near Petersburg - seizing a Confederate flag under fire.

He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on 24 September 1864, and to Captain by Delaware Governor William Cannon on 23 February 1865. He was discharged from service in Arlington on June 3, 1865. on February 23, 1865.

After the war, Shilling took up the Methodist ministry, (He had been chaplain of his regiment since December 1, 1864). He served the charges of Princess Anne & Annamessex in Maryland and Roxanna, Appoquinimink, Christiana and Wilmington in Delaware. He died of a brain tumor at the age of 52.

Source: The Delaware Government Information Center, biographical sketch on delaware.gov - originally from Martin, Roger A., Delaware"s Medal of Honor Recipients - much of the text above.

2/15/1832; London, ENGLAND

7/22/1884; Wilmington, DE; burial in Riverview Cemetery, Wilmington, DE