Grave of Orlanda Caruana at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Washington, D.C.
Caruana was born on June 23, 1844, in Valletta in the British Crown Colony of Malta.[3] Claiming to be 20 years old, he enlisted in the U.S. Army from New York City in August 1861. He received the Medal of Honor for two actions. The first was on March 14, 1862, during the Battle of New Bern when he took the battle flag from the wounded color bearer, helping off the battlefield. The second was on September 14 that same year when he, along with three other men, volunteered to scout out the enemy's position in Maryland during the Battle of South Mountain. The other three men were killed but he managed to escape and rejoin his company.[4] He was discharged from the 51st New York Infantry in September 1864.[5]
At New Bern, North Carolina, brought off the wounded color sergeant and the colors under a heavy fire of the enemy. Was one of four soldiers who volunteered to determine the position of the enemy at South Mountain, Md. While so engaged was fired upon and his three companions killed, but he escaped and rejoined his command in safety.[1][2][3]
