Jacob F. Raub (May 13, 1840 – May 21, 1906) was an American soldier and surgeon who fought with the Union Army in the American Civil War. Raub received his country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for actions taken on February 5, 1865, during the Battle of Hatcher's Run.
Civil War service
Raub served with the 210th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment during the Civil War as an assistant surgeon.[1] On February 5, 1865, during the Battle of Hatcher's Run, Raub volunteered to tend wounded soldiers in the middle of severe gunfire and then took up arms himself and began to fight after noticing Confederate soldiers about to launch a surprise attack from a position his regiment was initially not prepared to defend.[2] He received the Medal of Honor on April 20, 1896, some 31 years after his actions.
Medal of Honor citation
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Assistant Surgeon Jacob F. Raub, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 5 February 1865, while serving with 210th Pennsylvania Infantry, in action at Hatcher's Run, Virginia. Discovering a flank movement by the enemy, Assistant Surgeon Raub appraised the commanding general at great peril, and though a noncombatant voluntarily participated with the troops in repelling this attack.[3]
Jacob married Jane S. Weaver, the third of nine siblings, on September 16, 1864. The couple had three children, born in 1867, 1870, and 1874, respectively.