Abraham Cohn was born in Guttentag, Silesia (then Prussia), and eventually made his home in Campton, New Hampshire. When the Civil War broke out, he answered the call to serve his adopted country, enlisting with the 6th New Hampshire Infantry.

His most notable actions occurred during the grueling campaigns of 1864. On May 6, 1864, during the Battle of the Wilderness, the chaos of combat caused several regiments to break and flee. Amidst the heavy fire, Cohn stepped forward to rally these disorganized troops, successfully forming them back into a cohesive unit.

Just months later, on July 30, 1864, during the Battle of the Crater (the “Mine”) at Petersburg, Virginia, Cohn again displayed exceptional composure. Under severe enemy fire, he moved across the battlefield to carry vital orders to the advanced lines. For these two distinct acts of “conspicuous gallantry,” Sergeant Major Cohn was awarded the Medal of Honor.