Orlando E. Caruana

Orlando E. Caruana
Caruana in 1917 newspaper
Birth name	Orlando Emanuel Caruana
Born	(1844-06-23)June 23, 1844 Valletta, Crown Colony of Malta
Died	September 14, 1917(1917-09-14) (aged 73) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Buried	Mount Olivet Cemetery Washington, D.C., U.S.
Allegiance	United States
Service / branch	United States Army
Years of service	1861–1864
Rank	Sergeant
Unit	51st Regiment New York Volunteer Infantry - Company K
Battles / wars	American Civil War Battle of New Bern Battle of South Mountain
Awards	Medal of Honor

Private Orlando Emanuel Caruana (June 23, 1844 – September 14, 1917) was a Maltese-born American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Caruana received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action during the Battle of New Bern in North Carolina on March 14, 1862, and the Battle of South Mountain in Maryland on September 14, 1862. He was honored with the award on November 14, 1890.

Biography

Grave of Orlanda Caruana at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

Caruana was born on June 23, 1844, in Valletta in the British Crown Colony of Malta. Claiming to be 20 years old, he enlisted in the U.S. Army from New York City in August 1861. He received the Medal of Honor for two actions. The first was on March 14, 1862, during the Battle of New Bern when he took the battle flag from the wounded color bearer, helping off the battlefield. The second was on September 14 that same year when he, along with three other men, volunteered to scout out the enemy's position in Maryland during the Battle of South Mountain. The other three men were killed but he managed to escape and rejoin his company. He was discharged from the 51st New York Infantry in September 1864.

Caruana died on September 14, 1917, and his remains are interred at the Mount Olivet Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

Medal of Honor citation

At New Bern, North Carolina, brought off the wounded color sergeant and the colors under a heavy fire of the enemy. Was one of four soldiers who volunteered to determine the position of the enemy at South Mountain, Md. While so engaged was fired upon and his three companions killed, but he escaped and rejoined his command in safety.

See also

• List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: A–F