Although Excused From Duty

Civil War Medal of Honor award honoree John James Toffey died March 13th 1911.

John James Toffey was born June 1st 1844 in Pawling, New York. He joined the 21st New Jersey Volunteer Infantry as a Private on August 28th 1862. The 21st was a nine month regiment. Toffey received a commission to First Lieutenant in the 33rd New Jersey Volunteer’s in August of 1863. It was on November 23rd 1863 at the Battle of Missionary Ridge in Chattanooga Tennessee that Toffey earned the Medal of Honor for acts of bravery. Do to wounds he was discharged on June 2nd 1864 from the 33rd New Jersey, being placed in the Veteran Reserve Corps he continued to serve as a Lieutenant until 1866. Toffey was at Ford’s Theater and witnessed Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. He joined in the search for John Wilkes Booth and his conspirators, and testified at the trial.

Following the war Toffey went into public service. He served as the Hudson County, New Jersey Sheriff, an Alderman for Jersey City,New Jersey, and was a member of the New Jersey State Legislature. Toffey received the Congressional Medal of Honor on September 10th 1897, the citation reads; “Although excused from duty on account of sickness, went to the front in command of a storming party and with conspicuous gallantry participated in the assault of Missionary Ridge; was here wounded and permanently disabled“. He died March 13th 1911 in Pawling New York.