Medal of Honor Recipient James Daniel Gardner
Pvt. James Daniel Gardner, also spelled as Gardiner, (1839-1905) was a member of the 36th U.S. Colored Regiment. At the battle of New Market Heights in Virginia on September 29, 1864, he led an attack on the Confederate position and ran a bayonet through a Rebel officer. He was awarded the Medal of Honor and promoted to Sergeant the next day. He was a free Black but little is known of his life before the war. After the war he became a Catholic missionary and lived in Burlington and Ottumwa. He is buried in Calvary Cemetery in Ottumwa - go east on Pennsylvania Avenue to the cemetery on the east edge of the city. The gravestone is in the central part of the cemetery - look for the memorial with the 6 flagpoles - his stone is just west of these flagpoles. The first two photos were taken 11/18/08. The final photo was taken 4/19/13 at a SUVCW ceremony to honor Sgt. Gardner.