A flag folding ceremony was conducted at the gravesite. (Ken Miller photos)
American Legion Posts of Atchison and Holt counties fired a 21 gun salute at the ceremony honoring Medal of Honor recipient Ambrose Porter.
The flag was presented to Rock Port Mayor Amy Thomas.
Mary Kahn, left, and Kelly Daugherty, right, display the flag, donated to Ralph Greer American Legion Post #49.
The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, assisted by the American Legion Posts of Atchison County and Holt County, recognized Ambrose Porter, a Civil War Medal of Honor recipient, in a ceremony Sunday, March 23, 2025, at the Elmwood Cemetery, Rock Port. A flag folding ceremony was conducted, along with a 21 gun salute. The flag was presented in his honor to Rock Port Mayor Amy Thomas. It was donated to the Ralph Greer American Legion Post #49 Monday, April 7.
Ambrose entered the Union Army in November 1861, when he was mustered in as a Private in Company B of the 4th Battalion, Missouri State Militia (also known as “Thompson’s Battalion”). When that unit was dismissed in February 1862, he joined the 5th Missouri State Militia Cavalry as a Commissary Sergeant. His service in that regiment led to his appointment as Commissary Sergeant of Company D, 12th Missouri Volunteer Infantry.
It was while he was with this unit that he performed an act of bravery during an engagement on the Tallahatchie River, Mississippi, on August 7, 1864, that would see him awarded the CMOH. The citation for the award reads, “Was one of four volunteers who swam the river under a brisk fire of the enemy’s sharpshooters and brought over a ferry boat by means of which the troops crossed and dislodged the enemy from a strong position.”
He was awarded the Medal of Honor for this on August 24, 1905. He was later promoted to 1st Lieutenant before being discharged from the 12th Infantry. His subsequent service during the war would be as a Private, first in Battery L, 3rd United States Colored Heavy Artillery, then as a Private in Company B, 88th United States Colored Troops.
