Henry Algeron du Pont graduated first in his class at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, just after the beginning of the Civil War, in 1861. While remaining loyal to his native state of Delaware, he would see service at the battles of Third Winchester and Fishers Hill. In 1898, du Pont’s actions at Cedar Creek would be officially recognized when he received the nation’s highest military honor, the Medal of Honor. Du Pont would return to Delaware in 1875 where he would become president of a railroad company and be twice elected to the U. S. Senate.