When the Civil War broke out " Maberry " enlisted in Company C, " 1st Delaware Infantry " under " Col. Henry Hayes Lockwood " ( bio ) in Wilmington, Delaware on August 21, 1861.   He was noted as being 5' 7" tall, light complexioned with light hair.   The unit was transferred to Fortress Monroe, Virginia where they fought in the " Battle of Chantilly " on September 1, 1862.

         The " 1st Delaware Infantry " then found itself assigned with " General George B. McClellan " who was moving to intercept Rebel " General Robert E. Lee " as he advanced into Maryland.   They met at a place by the Antietam creek in Sharpsburg, Maryland and there they fought in the " Battle of Antietam ".

         After the Battle of Antietam the regiment marched via Harper's Ferry to Fredericksburg where it went into battle in December as part of the 3rd Division of " General Winfield Scott Hancock's Second Corp ".   See the " Battle of Fredericksburg ".

         " Maberry's " deed of valor came on the third day of the " Battle Of Gettysburg ".    There the 1st Delaware Infantry Regiment was a part of " Lt. Colonel Thomas A. Smyth's 2nd Brigade " ( bio link ) ~ " Brig. General Henry Hays's 3rd Division " of " Major General Hancock's II Corps ".

         This day, July 3, 1863, the 1st Delaware Infantry was placed on Cemetery Ridge behind a short stone wall.   About .9 of a mile in front, the Rebels were forming and preparing for what was to become known as " Pickett's Charge ".   Finally, after a long bombardment the solid gray line of 15,000 men came into view and advanced.

         " Col. Thomas A. Smyth " ordered the 1st Delaware to hold their fire until the Rebels were only 50 yards away.   Then " Open Fire ! " was the command and the four lines of soldiers let loose with a volley.   The deadly fire stunned the Rebels but they still kept coming and falling.   Finally, the charge faltered some 40 feet in front of the Delaware men.

         Regimental Commander " Lieutenant William Smith " led a countercharge as the 1st Delaware men jumped over the wall.   " Lt. Smith " was later found dead with his sword in one hand and a captured flag in the other.

         " Private Maberry " was luckier than most as he and fellow Delawarean " Corporal Bernard McCarren " ( who also received a " Medal of Honor " )   both captured battle flags.   " Private Maberry " that of the 7th North Carolina and " Corporal Bernard McCarren " that of the 13th Alabama.

         " Maberry ", along with " McCarren ", received his medal one year, four months and 28 days after his heroic deed.   By that time he had been promoted to Sergeant.

         " Sergeant Maberry " later suffered a head wound during the " Battle of the Wilderness " and was hospitalized in Washington, D.C. for a while.   After being discharged from the hospital and when he returned to his unit he fought in the " Seige of Petersburg ", Virginia.

         " Sergeant Maberry " was mustered out of service on July 15, 1865, when he returned to his home in Smyrna, Delaware.

         " John Broxson Maberry " was a farmer after the war and he was married twice.   First he married Sarah E. Collins who died after the birth of their 6th child in 1883.

         He later married Susan Patterson and they had 3 more children.   In 1912, after becoming too old to farm, Maberry moved to New Street in Dover from his farm at Pearson's Corner near Cheswold, Delaware.   His second wife, Susan died before him in 1922.

         " John Broxson Maberry " died in Dover that same year as his wife on his 81st birthday, December 17, 1922.   He was interred with both of his wives and also with his " Medal Of Honor " around his neck in the Glenwood Cemetery in Smyrna, Delaware.

         On April 19, 2003 a State of Delaware historical marker and a new military headstone were placed in " Sergeant John B. Maberry's " honor in the Glenwood Cemetery.   The marker was placed near his grave but may, at some future date, be moved near the entrance of the cemetery.

" New Military Headstone "		" April 19, 2003 "
" Family Headstone "		" New State Historical Marker "

" Click Here "
for
" John Broxson Maberry's "
Find A Grave record.