Orlando Emanuel Caruana

Giving his age as 20, he enlisted on 7 August 1861 in New York City and mustered as a Sergeant in Company K, 51st New York Infantry on 6 September. He was cited for bravery in combat at New Berne, NC, in March 1862 for saving wounded comrades and the colors - which, along with his actions at South Mountain 6 months later, resulted in the award of the Medal of Honor.

He received the Medal of Honor for volunteering to scout the enemy's position at Fox's Gap on South Mountain on 14 September 1862 and returning successfully even though three of his companions were killed on the mission.

He was discharged at the end of his term of enlistment on 6 September 1864 in New York City.

On 18 July 1865 he enlisted in Washington, DC in Company I, 44th United States Infantry, and served as a clerk in the office of the Adjutant General. He reenlisted in June 1870 but was discharged in June 1874 to accept appointment as a Class 1 (civilian) clerk there. In 1910 he was still a clerk in the War Department in Washington, DC.

His service from the NY Adjutant General1 and the Registers.2 Personal details from family genealogists and the US Census of 1900 & 1910. His gravesite is on Findagrave. Thanks to Jim Steele for corrections to Sgt Caruana's profile; Jim has 4 generations of ancestors buried at Mt. Olivet.

He married Frances Marion Harvey and they had 3 children. He married again, Mary Catherine Fullerton (1850-1929) in 1896.

A post-war photograph of him to accompany his obituary was published in the Washington Evening Star of 14 September 1917 (via newspapers.com).

6/23/1844; Valetta, MALTA

09/14/1917; Washington, DC; burial in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Washington, DC