The battle was the decisive engagement of Major General Philip Sheridan’s Valley Campaigns of 1864 and was the largest battle fought in the Shenandoah Valley. Wambsgan enlisted in the Army from Clyde, New York in October 1861. He re-enlisted in February 1864, and mustered out with his regiment in early 1866.
He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the Battle of Cedar Creek fought near Middletown, Virginia on October 19, 1864. “The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private Martin Wambsgan, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 19 October 1864, while serving with Company Doctorate, 90th New York Infantry, in action at Cedar Creek, Virginia.
