![]() |
Prisoner of War/Missing in Action |
George Houghton was born in Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia in Canada. As a boy, he moved to Michigan, and later to Illinois, where he was educated and became a schoolteacher. During the Civil War, he entered service at Brookfield, Cook County, Illinois, serving with the 104th Illinois Infantry. After the war, he moved to South Dakota and became a lawyer. Moved to Woodstock, Minnesota, where he married Mrs. Emma L. Roberts on July 20, 1898. At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife, a brother named M.D. Houghton of Hillyard, Washington, and two sisters, Mrs. Annie E. Bryant of Peoria, Illinois, and Mrs. Julia Dunn of Moline, Illinois. He is buried in the Washington Soldiers Home Cemetery, Orting, Washington.
Pvt. George L. Houghton (August 28, 1841 - February 25, 1917) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War from 1862 - 1865. Pvt. George L Houghton enlisted on Aug 12 1862 on the side of the US Union Forces at Brookfield, Cook Co., Illinois and was assigned to Company D of the 104th Illinois Infantry Regiment. The 104th Illinois Infantry was organized at Ottawa, Illinois, and mustered in for three years duration of service on August 27, 1862. The 104th Regiment was then ordered to Louisville, Ky. and subsequently marched from Louisville to Frankfort, Ky., in September 1862, and duty there until October 25. It then moved to Hartsville, Tenn., on October 26 and saw action at Hartsville December 7.
The Battle of Hartsville, Tennessee
The Battle of Hartsville was fought on December 7, 1862, in northern Tennessee at the opening of the Stones River Campaign. Hartsville Battlefield is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Battle of Hartsville is described as one of the single most decisive battle of the Civil War. During the engagement, Pvt. Houghton's 104th Illinois Infantry Regiment was overwhelmed by Col. John Hunt Morgan, (a descendant of the privateer Henry Morgan) and his Confederate 2nd Kentucky Cavalry Regiment. The Regiment was paroled by Col. Morgan and sent to Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill., with duty there as paroled prisoners of war until April 1863, CSA president Jefferson Davis happened to be in the vicinity at Murfreesboro and promoted Col Morgan to Brig. Gen in person for his actions and success at the Hartsville battle. The total number of captured Union soldiers were estimated at over 2000 soldiers.
Camp Douglas, Chicago, Illinois
Pvt. Houghton and his Regiment was sent to Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill., and performed duty there as paroled prisoners of war until April 1863, when declared exchanged. It is notable that Camp Douglas was a Union Forces Prisoner of War camp for the confinement of captured Confederate soldiers and that the US 104th Illinois Infantry along with the other units captured were all Union prisoners. They were held as paroled prisoners waiting for a Confederate exchange, which occurred during the war. In the aftermath of the war, Camp Douglas eventually came to be described as the North's "Andersonville" for its poor conditions and death rate of between 17 and 23 per cent. it is estimated that from 1862 through 1865, more than 6,000 Confederate prisoners died from disease, starvation, and the bitter cold winters, based in part on an 1880s memorial in Chicago's Oak Woods Cemetery that states 6,000 Confederate dead (4,275 known dead) are buried there in a mass grave.
On release from Camp Douglas in April of 1863, the newly released and reformed 104th Regiment was ordered to Brentwood, Tenn., then to Murfreesboro, Tenn., and duty there until June 1863.
The 104th Illinois Infantry Regiment Battle Engagements
Pvt. Houghton continued his service with The 104th Illinois Infantry Regiment fighting in the following campaigns and battles. No source documentation exist indicating that Pvt Houghton was ever wounded or injured during this long and dangerous period.
Pvt George L. Houghton's Medal of Honor Actions at the Elk River Bridge
Pvt. Houghton received his country's highest award for bravery the "Medal of Honor" during combat actions on July 2, 1863 at Elk River, Tennessee. Pvt Houghton volunteered for a dangerous mission that no one expected them to survive. A small volunteer 10 man party was tasked to attack and secure a fortified blockhouse guarding the railroad bridge over the Elk River. The railroad and the intact bridge was critical to the movement of supplies to support The Tullahoma Campaign (or Middle Tennessee Campaign). Along with Houghton, nine other members from Company D of the 104th Illinois Infantry, known as "The La Salle County Regiment" -- received the Medal of Honor for participating in the same heroic action. The below is an account extracted from a Article by Charles Stanley, charless@mywebtimes.com. "7 from 'The La Salle County Regiment' earned Medals of Honor for same deed" [2]
On July 2, 1863, while the nation's eyes were on a battle in Gettysburg, Pa., in Tennessee rebel troops in a blockhouse guarding a railroad bridge across the Elk River were holding up the advance of Union troops. Sgt. George Marsh of Company D was told by his superiors to pick a squad of volunteers to attempt what seemed a suicide attack across the open and burning bridge. "Many offered to go, but I took the first 10 who stepped forward, and started for the fortification," Marsh later recalled. Amazingly, none of the Company D troops were injured and the blockhouse was captured. "No one who saw us go into the fight expected to see us come out alive, but we did, and without the loss of a man," said Marsh.
In 1897, the six known existing members of the unit received Medals of Honor for the deed. The names of all 10 heroes were clearly set forth in the 1895 regimental history of the 104th Illinois Infantry, but four were either dead or believed to be dead. Pvt Houghton was honored with the award on March 27, 1900.
![]() |
Awarded for actions during the Civil War
Presidential Citation
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private George L. Houghton, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 2 July 1863, while serving with Company D, 104th Illinois Infantry, in action at Elk River, Tennessee. Private Houghton voluntarily joined a small party that, under a heavy fire, captured a stockade and saved the bridge.
General Orders: Date of Issue: March 27, 1900
Action Date: July 2, 1863
Service: Army
Rank: Private
Company: Company D
Division: 104th Illinois Infantry
Home of record: Brookfield Illinois
![]() |
George Houghton, son of Ruffus Houghton, 1850 United States Federal Census [1]
George Houghton, 1860 United States Federal Census,[2]
George L. Houghton, 11th United States Special Census, 1890 Veterans Schedules[3]
George L. Houghton, 1910 United States Federal Census[4]
Minnesota Marriages, Records of 1849–1950
George L Houghton, U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
Title: Washington State Death Certificate Index Repository: Internet Washington, Select Death Certificates, 1907-1960
"Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVVC-3HQC : 13 December 2015), George L. Houghton, 1917; Burial, Orting, Pierce, Washington, United States of America, Washington Soldiers Home Cemetery; citing record ID 8063718, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
Illinois Civil War Detail Report [3]
George L Houghton, in the U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865 Sources: Illinois: Roster of Officers and Enlisted Men, Medal of Honor Recipients 1863-1994
Name: George L Houghton Residence: Brookfield, Cook Co., Illinois, Illinois Age at Enlistment: 20 Enlistment Date:12 Aug 1862 Rank at enlistment: Private Enlistment Place: Brookfield, Cook Co., Illinois State Served: Illinois Survived the War?: Yes Service Record: Enlisted in Company D, Illinois 104th Infantry Regiment on 27 Aug 1862. Mustered out on 16 Jun 1865. Birth Date: 28 Aug 1841 Death Date: 25 Feb 1917
Report of the adjutant general of the state of Illinois [6].
The History of the One Hundred and Fourth Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry[7].
Father: Rufus Houghton b: 1795 in New York Mother: Lucy Abell b: 28 DEC 1809 in Aylmer, Ontario, CANADA
Title: 1850 Federal Census, United States Repository: Census Page: Michigan, ALLEGAN, Roll 346 Book 1, Page 42b, line 15, 8 years old Home in 1850: Otsego, Allegan, Michigan, USA, Household in the 1850 Census:
Ruffus Houghton 55 Lucy Houghton 42 Lewis Houghton 23 Edward Houghton 17 Anna Houghton 15 Olive Houghton 13 Daniel Houghton 11 George Houghton 8 Lydia Houghton 7 Merrit Houghton 4 Julia Houghton 0
Title: 1860 Federal Census, United States Repository: Census Page: Illinois, LASALLE, Roll 196 Book 1, Page 319, line 2 Home in 1860: Brookfield, LaSalle, Illinois
Lydia Houghton 16 George Houghton 19 Merit D Houghton 14 Julia P Houghton 12
PVT. George L. Houghton, Medal of Honor Recipient
PVT. George L. Houghton, Medal of Honor Recipient
Pvt. George L. Houghton, Co D, Illinois 104th Infantry Regiment Roster [4]
Pvt George L Houghton, US 104th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Prisoner of War [5] Regiment captured and paroled. Sent to Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill., and duty there as paroled prisoners of war until April 1863, when declared exchanged.
Camp Douglas, Chicago, Illinois [6]
Acadian heritage connections: George is 20 degrees from Beyoncé Knowles, 18 degrees from Jean Béliveau, 17 degrees from Madonna Ciccone, 17 degrees from Rhéal Cormier, 17 degrees from Joseph Drouin, 16 degrees from Jack Kerouac, 13 degrees from Anne Murray, 20 degrees from Matt LeBlanc, 16 degrees from Roméo LeBlanc, 16 degrees from Azilda Marchand, 14 degrees from Marie Travers and 18 degrees from Clarence White on our single family tree. Login to see how you relate to 33 million family members.
H > Houghton > George L. Houghton
Categories: Medal of Honor | Camp Douglas, Chicago, Illinois | Migrants from Nova Scotia to Michigan | Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia | Pierce County, Washington | Orting, Washington | Washington Soldiers Home Cemetery, Orting, Washington | Civil War Campaign Medal (Army) | Battle of Hartsville | Battle of Stones River | Tullahoma Campaign | Battle of Chickamauga | First Battle of Chattanooga | Battle of Resaca | Battle of Kennesaw Mountain | Battle of Peachtree Creek | Battle of Atlanta | Battle of Jonesborough | Siege of Savannah (1864) | Battle of Bentonville | Prisoners of War, United States of America, United States Civil War | 104th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, United States Civil War