John Wilson Sprague
Representing: Union
Unit History
- 7th Ohio Infantry E
- 63rd Ohio Infantry Field & Staff
John Wilson Sprague 1817 1893
John Wilson Sprague 1817 893
John W Sprague 7th OH Infantry Co E 1861
John W Sprague 63rd OH Infantry Field & Staff 1862
John W Sprague Military Letter p1
John W Sprague Military Letter p2
John W Sprague & wife Julia Choate family
John Wilson Sprague Family History
John W Sprague 1890 Veterans Schedule WA
John Wilson Sprague Death Record 1893 WA
CLIPPED FROM The Spokane Review Spokane, Washington 26 Dec 1893, Tue • Page 3
San Francisco Chronicle Tuesday, Dec 26, 1893 San Francisco, CA Page: 3
John Wilson Sprague Obituary 1893 CA
Soldier History
Civil War Union Brigadier General, Medal of Honor Recipient. Served as a Colonel in command of the Second Brigade, Fourth Division of the Sixteenth Army Corps, 63rd Ohio Infantry. At the Battle of Decatur, Georgia, on July 22, 1862, with a small command he defeated an overwhelming Confederate enemy force and saved the entire ordnance and supply trains of the Fifteenth, Sixteenth, Seventeenth and Twentieth Corps. He was promoted to Brigadier General on July 30, 1862 and ended the war as a Brevet Major General. He passed away before his award was issued on January 18, 1894.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
Created by Brian
July 22, 1864
The Battle of Atlanta
Bald Hill, Leggett's Hill
On July 21 Sherman’s three armies were still more or less separated. Better yet, Wheeler reported that as McPherson’s army marched in on Atlanta from the east, it had its left flank “in the air” (Sherman had sent Kenner Garrard’s cavalry east to wreck the Georgia Railroad). This situation presented Hood with an opportunity to launch a flank attack, like the one made famous by Jackson at Chancellorsville. Hood planned for his forces to drop back from their outer lines north of the city into the main fortified perimeter around the city on the night of July 21-22; Stewart and Cheatham would hold the works. Hardee’s corps would march through and out of the city, southeast then northeast toward Decatur, guided by Wheeler’s cavalry and jump into McPherson’s left-rear, while Wheeler attacked McPherson’s wagon trains. It was an ambitious plan, calling for a 15-mile night march by Hardee’s troops and a dawn attack on the 22nd. But a late start, exhaustion of the men, a hot night, dusty roads and poor service from the cavalry combined to bring the four assault divisions not nearly far enough into McPherson’s rear when Hardee, well behind schedule, decided to deploy. Then rough terrain added further delay—Confederate Maj. Gen. W. H. T. Walker was shot and killed getting his division into place. Hardee’s surprise attack did not begin till shortly after noon.
The Federals were blessed with a lot of good luck that day. By chance, a Union division under Brig. Gen. Thomas W. Sweeny happened to be in just the right position to meet Hardee’s opening assault. Instead of overrunning hospital tents and wagon trains in McPherson’s rear, Walker’s and Bate’s troops ran instead face-to-face into a division of veteran enemy infantry.
General McPherson, having left Sherman’s headquarters at the Augustus Hurt house (now Carter Center) just before the firing started, was on this part of the field watching Sweeny contend with the Rebels. Then he rode off to see how Frank Blair’s Seventeenth Corps was doing; by now it had been struck by Cleburne’s hard-hitting division. McPherson and his staff were riding down a wagon road when they unexpectedly ran into part of Cleburne’s line. “He came upon us suddenly,” remembered Capt. Richard Beard of the 5th Confederate:
"I threw up my sword as a signal for him to surrender. He checked his horse, raised his hat in salute, wheeled to the right and dashed off to the rear in a gallop. Corporal Coleman, standing near me, was ordered to fire, and it was his shot that brought General McPherson down."
McPherson’s subordinates dashed off. One Union officer struck a tree in his flight; the blow smashed his pocket watch and froze the time of the general’s death—2:02 p.m. Confederate Captain Beard came up to the body and saw a bullet hole in the back, near the heart. He stayed only long enough to identify the fallen enemy officer as McPherson before continuing his advance. Later, one of McPherson’s staff officers led an ambulance back to the scene, retrieved the general’s corpse, and bore it to Sherman’s headquarters. Sherman was moved with grief for his friend, only the second Union army commander killed during the war.
Cleburne’s attack initially overran part of the Union line, capturing two guns and several hundred prisoners. Then the Southerners ran up against infantry and artillery on a hill occupied by Brig. Gen. Mortimer Leggett’s division, and were stopped. Maney’s Confederate division joined in the fight, but Leggett held onto his hill.
Around 3:00 p.m. Hood ordered Cheatham’s division to launch an attack from Atlanta’s eastern line of works. Cheatham’s assault against the Federal line held by Logan’s Fifteenth Corps met with initial success, overrunning the Yankee line at the Troup Hurt House and capturing artillery, until a Union counterattack forced it back. Cleburne’s and Maney’s divisions gave up their fight, too, as at the end of the afternoon the Confederates retired to their initial positions. The Battle of Atlanta was ended, save for sporadic artillery and rifle fire into the night. General Logan, named to replace McPherson for the moment, reported 3,722 killed wounded or missing in the Army of the Tennessee. Hardee counted 3,299 casualties in his corps, while Cheatham’s lost probably half that number. Adding in several hundred casualties in Wheeler’s cavalry (from its unsuccessful attack on the Union wagon train at Decatur) Confederate losses on July 22 adds up to about 5,500. Hood’s effort to roll up Sherman’s left flank had failed.
From Civil War Trust
Residence Huron OH; 44 years old. Enlisted on 4/23/1861 at Sandusky, Erie Co., OH as a Captain. On 4/25/1861 he was commissioned into "E" Co. OH 7th Infantry He was discharged for promotion on 6/17/1861 On 6/17/1861 he was commissioned into "E" Co. OH 7th Infantry He was discharged for promotion on 1/23/1862 On 1/23/1862 he was commissioned into Field & Staff OH 63rd Infantry He was discharged for promotion on 7/30/1864 On 7/30/1864 he was commissioned into US Volunteers General Staff He was Mustered Out on 9/1/1866 He was listed as: * POW 8/8/1861 Birch River, VA * Exchanged 1/9/1862 Fort Monroe, VA (Exchanged for Capt Lucius J. Johnson) Promotions: * Colonel 1/23/1862 (As of 63rd OH Inf) * Brig-General 7/30/1864 * Major-Gen 3/13/1865 by Brevet Other Information: born 4/4/1817 in White Creek, Washington Co, NY died 12/24/1893 in Tacoma, WA Buried: Old Tacoma Cemetry, Tacoma, WA Medal of Honor Information: He was awarded the Medal of Honor for action on 7/22/1862 at Decatur, GA. (With a small command defeated an overwhelming force of the enemy and saved the trains of the corps) After the War he lived in Tacoma, WA Sources used by Historical Data Systems, Inc.: - Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio - Deeds of Valor. How our Soldier-heroes won the Medal of Honor - Medal of Honor Recipients 1863-1994 - Society of the Army of the Tennessee, Reunion 1884-87 - Generals in Blue, Lives of the Union Commanders - Dyer: A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion - Heitman: Register of United States Army 1789-1903 - Official Records of the War of Rebellion (c) Historical Data Systems, Inc. @ www.civilwardata.com |
JOHN WILSON SPRAGUE
Sprague, John W., brigadier-general, was born in White
Creek Washington county, N. Y. April 4, 1817. He was an
attendant at the district school of his neighborhood and
entered the Rensselaer polytechnic institute at Troy, N. Y.,
when thirteen years of age. He left school before graduation
to engage in business, and in 1845 removed to Milan, Erie
county, Ohio, where he continued the business of a merchant.
He afterward settled in Sandusky and was for one term (1851-52)
treasurer of Erie county. Upon the outbreak of the Civil war
he raised a company of militia, was made its captain and with
it joined the 7th Ohio infantry. He was rapidly promoted and
in 1863 was colonel of the 63d Ohio infantry, brigadier-general
of volunteers on July 21, 1864, and on March 13, 1865, was
brevetted major-general of volunteers. He was mustered out of
the service on Aug. 24, 1865. During his service as a
volunteer officer he declined a lieutenant-colonelcy in the
regular army. After the war he was appointed manager of the
Winona & St. Paul railway. In 1870 he was general manager of
the western division of the Northern Pacific railway and with
Capt. Ainsworth established the city of Tacoma, Wash. In 1883
he had the honor of driving the golden spike on the completion
of his division and soon afterward resigned on account of
impaired health. He was active in building up the new city of
Tacoma and was president of the board of trade and of various
banks and corporations. Gen. Sprague died at his home in
Tacoma, Wash., Dec. 27, 1893.
Source: The Union Army, vol. 8
Source: http://civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&272292
Family History
-
CWV TACOMA CEM TACOMA PIERCE CO SPRAGUE JOHN WILSON UNION CENSUS CHRON 2023
Medal of Honor Recpt
Otis Sprague father
BIRTH
9 Apr 1791
Worcester County, Massachusetts, USA
DEATH
10 Aug 1869 (aged 78)
BURIAL
Winona, Winona County, Minnesota, USA
MEMORIAL ID
201409689 · View Source
Polly Peck Sprague mother
BIRTH
20 Jun 1793
Adams, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, USA
DEATH
23 May 1879 (aged 85)
BURIAL
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA Show Map
PLOT
D-2
MEMORIAL ID
245423343 · View Source
Name
Julia F. Choate
Gender
Female
Marriage Date
10 Jan 1849
Marriage Place
Erie, Ohio, USA
Spouse
Film Number
000954128
1860 Oxford Erie Co. OH
J W Sprange 43/1817/NY farmer
Julia 33/1827/OHOtis 6
J W 3
E W 2
C B 1
Laura 16
Otis 29 brother
Polly 67 Mother
Name
John Wilson Sprague
State Served
Ohio
Highest Rank
Major General
Birth Date
1817
Death Date
1893
Birth Place
White Creek, New York
Army
Union
Promotions
Promoted to Full Captain (7th OH Inf) Promoted to Full Colonel (63rd OH Inf) Promoted to Full Brig-Gen Promoted to Brevet Major-Gen
Biography
JOHN WILSON SPRAGUE Sprague, John W., brigadier-general, was born in White Creek Washington county, N. Y. April 4, 1817. He was an attendant at the district school of his neighborhood and entered the Rensselaer polytechnic institute at Troy, N. Y., when thirteen years of age. He left school before graduation to engage in business, and in 1845 removed to Milan, Erie county, Ohio, where he continued the business of a merchant. He afterward settled in Sandusky and was for one term (1851-52) treasurer of Erie county. Upon the outbreak of the Civil war he raised a company of militia, was made its captain and with it joined the 7th Ohio infantry. He was rapidly promoted and in 1863 was colonel of the 63d Ohio infantry, brigadier-general of volunteers on July 21, 1864, and on March 13, 1865, was brevetted major-general of volunteers. He was mustered out of the service on Aug. 24, 1865. During his service as a volunteer officer he declined a lieutenant-colonelcy in the regular army. After the war he was appointed manager of the Winona & St. Paul railway. In 1870 he was general manager of the western division of the Northern Pacific railway and with Capt. Ainsworth established the city of Tacoma, Wash. In 1883 he had the honor of driving the golden spike on the completion of his division and soon afterward resigned on account of impaired health. He was active in building up the new city of Tacoma and was president of the board of trade and of various banks and corporations. Gen. Sprague died at his home in Tacoma, Wash., Dec. 27, 1893. Source: The Union Army, vol. 8
John Wilson Sprague
Residence Huron OH; 44 years old.
Enlisted on 4/23/1861 at Sandusky, Erie Co., OH as a Captain.
On 4/25/1861 he was commissioned into "E" Co. OH 7th Infantry
He was discharged for promotion on 6/17/1861
On 6/17/1861 he was commissioned into "E" Co. OH 7th Infantry
He was discharged for promotion on 1/23/1862
On 1/23/1862 he was commissioned into Field & Staff OH 63rd Infantry
He was discharged for promotion on 7/30/1864
On 7/30/1864 he was commissioned into
He was Mustered Out on 9/1/1866
He was listed as:
* POW 8/8/1861 Birch River, VA
* Exchanged 1/9/1862 Fort Monroe, VA (Exchanged for Capt Lucius J. Johnson)
Promotions:
* Colonel 1/23/1862 (As of 63rd OH Inf)
* Brig-General 7/30/1864
* Major-Gen 3/13/1865 by Brevet
Other Information:
born 4/4/1817 in White Creek, Washington Co, NY
died 12/24/1893 in Tacoma, WA
Buried: Old Tacoma Cemetry, Tacoma, WA
Medal of Honor Information:
He was awarded the Medal of Honor
for action on 7/22/1862 at Decatur, GA.
(With a small command defeated an overwhelming force
of the enemy and saved the trains of the corps)
After the War he lived in Tacoma, WA
Sources used by Historical Data Systems, Inc.:
- Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio
- Deeds of Valor. How our Soldier-heroes won the Medal of Honor
- Medal of Honor Recipients 1863-1994
- Society of the Army of the Tennessee, Reunion 1884-87
- Generals in Blue, Lives of the Union Commanders
- Dyer: A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
- Heitman: Register of United States Army 1789-1903
- Official Records of the War of Rebellion
(c) Historical Data Systems, Inc. @ www.civilwardata.com
JOHN WILSON SPRAGUE
Sprague, John W., brigadier-general, was born in White
Creek Washington county, N. Y. April 4, 1817. He was an
attendant at the district school of his neighborhood and
entered the Rensselaer polytechnic institute at Troy, N. Y.,
when thirteen years of age. He left school before graduation
to engage in business, and in 1845 removed to Milan, Erie
county, Ohio, where he continued the business of a merchant.
He afterward settled in Sandusky and was for one term (1851-52)
treasurer of Erie county. Upon the outbreak of the Civil war
he raised a company of militia, was made its captain and with
it joined the 7th Ohio infantry. He was rapidly promoted and
in 1863 was colonel of the 63d Ohio infantry, brigadier-general
of volunteers on July 21, 1864, and on March 13, 1865, was
brevetted major-general of volunteers. He was mustered out of
the service on Aug. 24, 1865. During his service as a
volunteer officer he declined a lieutenant-colonelcy in the
regular army. After the war he was appointed manager of the
Winona & St. Paul railway. In 1870 he was general manager of
the western division of the Northern Pacific railway and with
Capt. Ainsworth established the city of Tacoma, Wash. In 1883
he had the honor of driving the golden spike on the completion
of his division and soon afterward resigned on account of
impaired health. He was active in building up the new city of
Tacoma and was president of the board of trade and of various
banks and corporations. Gen. Sprague died at his home in
Tacoma, Wash., Dec. 27, 1893.
Source: The Union Army, vol. 8
Name
John W. Sprague Medal of Honor Recp.
Military Rank
Colonel
Birth Date
4 Apr 1817
Birth Place
White Creek, N.Y.
Military Date
22 Jul 1862
Military Place
Decatur, GA.
Enlistment Place
Sandusky, Ohio
Service Branch
U.S. Army
Division
63d Ohio Infantry
Theater of War
Civil War
Name
John Wilson Sprague
Enlistment Age
44
Birth Date
4 Apr 1817
Birth Place
White Creek, Washington Co, New York, USA
Enlistment Date
23 Apr 1861
Enlistment Place
Sandusky, Erie Co., Ohio
Enlistment Rank
Captain
Muster Date
25 Apr 1861
Muster Place
Ohio
Muster Company
E
Muster Regiment
7th Infantry
Muster Regiment Type
Infantry
Muster Information
Commission
Rank Change Date
23 Jan 1862
Rank Change Rank
Colonel
Rank Change Information
As of 63rd OH Inf
Imprisonment Date
8 Aug 1861
Imprisonment Place
Birch River, Virginia
Muster Out Date
17 Jun 1861
Muster Out Information
disch for Promo
Side of War
Union
Survived War?
Yes
Was Officer?
Yes
Was POW?
Yes
Residence Place
Huron, Ohio
Last Known Residence Place
Tacoma, Washington
Death Date
24 Dec 1893
Death Place
Tacoma, Washington
Burial Place
Old Tacoma Cemetry, Tacoma, Washington
Notes
1862-01-09 Exchanged, (Fort Monroe, VA), Exchanged for Capt Lucius J. Johnson
Additional Notes 2
Muster 2 Date: 17 Jun 1861; Muster 2 Place: Ohio; Muster 2 Unit: 1920; Muster 2 Company: E; Muster 2 Regiment: 7th Infantry; Muster 2 Regiment Type: Infantry; Muster 2 Information: Commission; Muster 3 Date: 23 Jan 1862; Muster 3 Place: Ohio; Muster 3 Unit: 1900; Muster 3 Company: S; Muster 3 Regiment: 63rd Infantry; Muster 3 Regiment Type: Infantry; Muster 3 Information: Commission; Rank Change 2 Date: 30 Jul 1864; Rank Change 2 Rank: Brigadier General; Rank Change 3 Date: 13 Mar 1865; Rank Change 3 Rank: Major General; MusterOut 2 Date: 23 Jan 1862; MusterOut 2 Information: disch for Promo; MusterOut 3 Date: 30 Jul 1864; MusterOut 3 Information: disch for Promo;
Title
Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio; Deeds of Valor. How our Soldier-heroes won the Medal of Honor; Medal of Honor Recipients 1863-1994; Society of the Army of the Tennessee, Reunion 1884-87; Generals in Blue, Lives of the Union Commanders; Dyer: A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion; Heitman: Register of United States Army 1789-1903; Official Records of the War of Rebellion
Name
John Wilson Sprague child
Gender
Male
Age
1
Birth Date
11 Jun 1869
Death Date
5 Feb 1871
*Father
*Mother
1870 Winona Ward 3 Winona Co. MN
John Sprague 53/1817/NY RR Superint’dt
Julia 43/1827/OH
Otis 16/OH (1854 d. 7/30/1917 King Co. WA)
Woodard 12/158/OH (Clark Woodard 8/23/1857 d. 12/8/1928 King Co. WA)
John 11/12 1839/MN
1880 New Tacoma Pierce Co. WA
John W Sprague 62/1818/NY NY/NY Supt
Julia F 53/1827/OH NY/NY
Otis 26
Mave H 24 dil
Julia B 1 grandaughter
Julia Frances Choate Sprague
BIRTH
29 Jun 1826
DEATH
24 May 1886 (aged 59)
BURIAL
Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington, USA
MEMORIAL ID
32632961 · View Source
General Sprague's first wife died before they had been married a year. They had one daughter, now Mrs. J. W. Wickham, of Huron, O. He married a second time, the bride being a daughter of the Hon. G. W. Choate. Four sons were born to them, C. W., Otis, W. W., and Charles Sprague,
(Taken from the obituary of General Sprague published in the Oregonian, December 26, 1893, page 2.)Name
John W Sprague
Gender
Male
Rank
General
Role
Veteran
Residence Date
Jun 1890
Residence Place
Tacoma, Pierce, Washington, USA
Enumeration District
88
Enlistment Date
19 Apr 1861
Discharge Date
Feb 1867
Name
John W Sprague
Gender
Male
Race
White
Birth Date
abt 1817
Birth Place
New York
Death Date
24 Dec 1893
Age at Death
76
Death Location
Tacoma, Washington
Father's Birth Place
New York
John Wilson Sprague Famous memorial
BIRTH
4 Apr 1817
White Creek, Washington County, New York, USA
DEATH
24 Dec 1893 (aged 76)
Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington, USA
BURIAL
Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington, USA Show Map
PLOT
Section 4, Lot 29A
MEMORIAL ID
5896941 · View Source
Civil War Union Brigadier General, Medal of Honor Recipient. Served as a Colonel in command of the Second Brigade, Fourth Division of the Sixteenth Army Corps, 63rd Ohio Infantry. At the Battle of Decatur, Georgia, on July 22, 1862, with a small command he defeated an overwhelming Confederate enemy force and saved the entire ordnance and supply trains of the Fifteenth, Sixteenth, Seventeenth and Twentieth Corps. He was promoted to Brigadier General on July 30, 1862 and ended the war as a Brevet Major General. He passed away before his award was issued on January 18, 1894. Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
Lucy Wright Sprague 1844 d. 2/19/1931 Erie Co. NY
Winthrop Wright Sprague 5/1/1856/OH d. 12/14/1903 Pierce Co. WA
Clark Woodward Sprague 8/23/1857 d. 12//1928 Pierce Co. WA
Charles Sprague 2/13/1859 d. 11/14/1902 Pierce Co. WAAbigail Wright Sprague
BIRTH
1822
DEATH
27 Aug 1905 (aged 82–83)
BURIAL
Lisbon, Columbiana County, Ohio, USA
MEMORIAL ID
70058024 · View Source
1st husband Joseph E Vance 181 1871
2nd. husband Sprague.
John Wilson Sprague was born in White Creek, Washington County, New York, on April 4, 1817. He attended local district schools and at age 13 he entered Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in nearby Troy, Rensselaer County, New York. (Sources disagree as to whether or not he graduated.) When he was 23, Sprague and a partner started Wallace & Sprague, a wholesale and retail grocery business in Troy. In 1843 he married Lucy Wright, the daughter of a Huron County, Ohio judge. Lucy Sprague died in Troy, New York, in May 1844, not long after giving birth to a daughter.
In 1845 Sprague moved to Huron, Erie County, Ohio, where he worked as a merchant. He then settled in Sandusky, Ohio and served in 1851 and 1852 as the Erie County treasurer. In the late 1850s he organized and equipped a line of sailboats and steamers for traffic on Lake Erie and was engaged in that business when the Civil War erupted. While in Sandusky, Sprague remarried, to Julia F. Choate, and before the decade was out, they had four sons. The couple also had two daughters, but both died in infancy.
On April 25, 1861, at the beginning of the Civil War, John Wilson Sprague joined the 7th Ohio Infantry and was made a captain in the unit's Company E. In August 1861, while heading home on leave, he and a small group of other Ohio soldiers were captured in West Virginia by Confederate troops. He was held at the infamous Libby Prison in Virginia, and then moved to South Carolina where he was held in Charleston and then Columbia. After five months, Sprague was released as part of a prisoner exchange in January 1862. He returned to duty with the Ohio 63rd Infantry Regiment. On January 23, 1862, he was promoted to colonel. Sprague led the regiment at the Siege of Corinth.
For the next several months, Sprague took part in the army's general operations in northern Alabama and Mississippi, and Tennessee. He participated in the Vicksburg Campaign in early and mid-1863. During the 1864 Atlanta Campaign, Sprague was in command of the 2nd Brigade, 4th Division of the XVI Army Corps. At the Battle of Atlanta on July 22, 1864, near Decatur, Georgia, he masterfully conducted a delaying action under heavy enemy fire and received praise from his superiors. With only a small command, he defeated an overwhelming Confederate force and saved the corps’ ordnance and supply trains. He was promoted to brigadier general on July 30, 1864. Sprague accompanied Sherman in his “March to the Sea” and was brevetted major general of volunteers to rank from March 13, 1865. From April 1865 until September 1866, Sprague was the assistant commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau for the district of Arkansas. He was in charge of operations in Missouri, Kansas, and subsequently the Indian Territory. In September 1865, he declined a lieutenant-colonelcy in the Regular Army and mustered out of the service.
After the war Sprague began a career in railway construction. He was appointed as the manager of the Winona and St. Paul Railway in Minnesota. In 1870 he became the general manager of the Western Division of the Northern Pacific Railway and helped establish the city of Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington. Sprague served as the town's first mayor, became prominent in its financial circles, and was president of the National Bank, Tacoma Chamber of Commerce, and the Tacoma Steam Navigation Company. His second wife Julia died in 1886. He married Abigail Choate in 1890. On January 14, 1893, while Sprague was still living, a Tacoma ordinance named Sprague Avenue, a major arterial in the city, in his honor.
Sprague joined George H. Thomas Post No. 5 of the G.A.R. in Olympia, Thurston County, Washington on April 13. 1881 as one of the 14 charter members. He later transferred to Custer Post No. 6 of Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington, where he served as Post Commander in 1887. The next year he was elected, unopposed, as Commander of the Department of Washington Territory (1888-89). The Gen. John W. Sprague Camp No. 4 of the Sons of Veterans of the United States of America (today Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War) was named in Sprague’s honor.
Sprague's last years were plagued by ill health. He died of heart failure in his Tacoma home on December 24, 1893. Three weeks after his death, on January 18, 1894, he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions and extraordinary heroism at Decatur, Georgia. The citation reads, “With a small command Colonel Sprague defeated an overwhelming force of the enemy and saved the trains of the corps". Major General Sprague was the first Medal of Honor Recipient to be buried in Washington state. On April 27, 2002, a Medal of Honor gravestone was added to his grave at the Tacoma Cemetery in Tacoma, Washington.
Medal of Honor at Decatur, GA for defeating an overwhelming force of the enemy thus saving the trains of the Corps. Ultimately rose Major General and would eventually become the first mayor of Tacoma, Washington. He joined George H Thomas Post No. 5 of Olympia, Thurston County, Washington on 13 Apr 1881 as one of the 14 charter members. He later transferred to Custer Post No. 6 of Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington, where he served as Post Commander in 1887. The next year he was elected, unopposed, as Commander of the Department of Washington Territory (1888-89).
Cemetery
Buried at Tacoma Cemetery
Row: Section 4, Lot 29A