He was an American soldier in the American Civil War and was born on January 31, 1840, and died April 24, 1904. He was in the Union Army and was one of the first people to receive the Medal of Honor. Pittenger went to county schools until he was sixteen. He was the son of Thomas Pittenger and Mary Mills Pittenger. When the Civil War started, he joined as a private on April 17, 1861, in Company H of the 2nd Ohio Infantry Regiment. He served for three months and took part in the First Battle of Bull Run. Soon after, he re-enlisted in the Army for another three years. He was called in on September 11, 1861, at Camp Dennison, Ohio, and a few days later, he became a corporal in Company G of the reformed 2nd Ohio Infantry. Pittenger was made a sergeant on March 13, 1862, and fought in Andrews' Raid, which is also known as the Great Locomotive Chase. He was caught near Lafayette, Georgia, on April 15, 1862, but he was spared death for being a spy. He was jailed until March 18, 1863, when he was released through City Point, Virginia. Pittenger was raised to lieutenant after he was freed and given the Medal of Honor. He served until his health got worse and he had to quit.
