Two months before his 29th birthday, J. Wallace Scott became one of Pennsylvania's early responders to President Abraham Lincoln's call for volunteers to defend Washington, D.C. following the April 1861 fall of Fort Sumter to the Confederate States Army.
After enrolling for military service in West Chester on June 4, 1861, he mustered in as a private with Company A of the 1st Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment (also known as the 30th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry).
Promoted to the rank of corporal early during his tenure of service, he and his men captured two enemy supply wagons while assigned to picket duties along an Annapolis Railroad line in Virginia in August of 1861.
Drawn by two horses each, the wagons were loaded with $5,000 worth of gold bullion and silk slated for use in CSA military uniforms and flags, as well as quinine supplies destined for CSA physicians.
Engaged with his regiment in the Seven Days Battles near Richmond, Virginia from June 25 to July 1, 1862, including the battles of Beaver Dam Creek (June 26), Gaines's Mill (June 27), Savage's Station (June 29), Glendale (June 30), and Malvern Hill (July 1), he then fought in the Second Battle of Bull Run (August 28–30), and the battles of South Mountain (September 14) and Antietam (September 17).
Advanced to the rank of sergeant, he was honorably discharged on October 23 in order to assume a new post with a different regiment.

Commissioned as a second lieutenant, he was assigned to the command staff of Company B, 157th Pennsylvania Infantry on garrison duty at Fort Delaware during the late fall and winter of 1862.
On February 27, 1863, Scott was then advanced again in rank.
Commissioned as a first lieutenant, he was also appointed as regimental adjutant with the 157th Pennsylvania, which was attached to Tyler’s Division, 22nd Corps, and assigned to the defense of Washington, D.C. On May 29, 1864, Scott and his battalion were reassigned to the 2nd Brigade, 4th Division, 5th Army Corps of the Army of the Potomac, and ordered out on operations between North Anna and Cold Harbor, Virginia.
Engaged in the battles of Bethesda Church (June 1–3) and Cold Harbor (June 1–12), the 157th Pennsylvania then participated in the Siege of Petersburg, including the Battle of the Crater (July 30).
Attached to the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 5th Army Corps beginning in August 1864, the 157th Pennsylvanians were then assigned to operations along the Weldon Railroad beginning August 18.

While engaged in those operations, Scott was wounded.
Shot in the right foot by a musket ball on August 23, he also sustained a shrapnel wound to his left leg when an artillery shell exploded near him.
Successfully treated for his injuries, he returned to his regiment, and was then advanced in rank again.
Commissioned as a captain by Pennsylvania Governor Andrew Gregg Curtin on October 18, he was placed in charge of the 157th Pennsylvania's D Company.

From February 5–7, 1865, Scott led his men in the Battle of Hatcher's Run.
Then, as part of a reorganization of Pennsylvania units, he and the other men from the 157th Pennsylvania were merged into the 191st Pennsylvania Infantry on March 21, 1865, and assigned to the Appomattox Campaign.
Just over a week later, Scott performed the act of valor for which he would later be awarded the U.S. Medal of Honor.
Engaged in hand-to-hand combat while leading his men in the Battle of Five Forks, Virginia on April 1, 1865, he captured the battle flag of the 16th South Carolina Infantry.
He was also brevetted as a major for his meritorious service that day.

Scott was then honorably discharged from the 191st Pennsylvania on May 29, 1865.
Two months before his 29th birthday, J. Wallace Scott became one of Pennsylvania's early responders to President Abraham Lincoln's call for volunteers to defend Washington, D.C. following the April 1861 fall of Fort Sumter to the Confederate States Army. After enrolling for military service in West Chester on June 4, 1861, he mustered in as a private with Company A of the 1st Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment (also known as the 30th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry). Promoted to the rank of corporal early during his tenure of service, he and his men captured two enemy supply wagons while assigned to picket duties along an Annapolis Railroad line in Virginia in August of 1861. Drawn by two horses each, the wagons were loaded with $5,000 worth of gold bullion and silk slated for use in CSA military uniforms and flags, as well as quinine supplies destined for CSA physicians. Engaged with his regiment in the Seven Days Battles near Richmond, Virginia from June 25 to July 1, 1862, including the battles of Beaver Dam Creek (June 26), Gaines's Mill (June 27), Savage's Station (June 29), Glendale (June 30), and Malvern Hill (July 1), he then fought in the Second Battle of Bull Run (August 28–30), and the battles of South Mountain (September 14) and Antietam (September 17). Advanced to the rank of sergeant, he was honorably discharged on October 23 in order to assume a new post with a different regiment.
Commissioned as a second lieutenant, he was assigned to the command staff of Company B, 157th Pennsylvania Infantry on garrison duty at Fort Delaware during the late fall and winter of 1862. On February 27, 1863, Scott was then advanced again in rank. Commissioned as a first lieutenant, he was also appointed as regimental adjutant with the 157th Pennsylvania, which was attached to Tyler’s Division, 22nd Corps, and assigned to the defense of Washington, D.C. On May 29, 1864, Scott and his battalion were reassigned to the 2nd Brigade, 4th Division, 5th Army Corps of the Army of the Potomac, and ordered out on operations between North Anna and Cold Harbor, Virginia. Engaged in the battles of Bethesda Church (June 1–3) and Cold Harbor (June 1–12), the 157th Pennsylvania then participated in the Siege of Petersburg, including the Battle of the Crater (July 30). Attached to the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 5th Army Corps beginning in August 1864, the 157th Pennsylvanians were then assigned to operations along the Weldon Railroad beginning August 18.
While engaged in those operations, Scott was wounded. Shot in the right foot by a musket ball on August 23, he also sustained a shrapnel wound to his left leg when an artillery shell exploded near him. Successfully treated for his injuries, he returned to his regiment, and was then advanced in rank again. Commissioned as a captain by Pennsylvania Governor Andrew Gregg Curtin on October 18, he was placed in charge of the 157th Pennsylvania's D Company.
From February 5–7, 1865, Scott led his men in the Battle of Hatcher's Run. Then, as part of a reorganization of Pennsylvania units, he and the other men from the 157th Pennsylvania were merged into the 191st Pennsylvania Infantry on March 21, 1865, and assigned to the Appomattox Campaign. Just over a week later, Scott performed the act of valor for which he would later be awarded the U.S. Medal of Honor. Engaged in hand-to-hand combat while leading his men in the Battle of Five Forks, Virginia on April 1, 1865, he captured the battle flag of the 16th South Carolina Infantry. He was also brevetted as a major for his meritorious service that day.
Scott was then honorably discharged from the 191st Pennsylvania on May 29, 1865.
John Wallace Scott