He received the Medal of Honor for the capture of a Confederate flag during the Battle of Amelia Springs while serving as the Chief Bugler of the 1st Pennsylvania Cavalry.

[3] Transported with his regiment to Camp Jones near Washington, D.C. in August 1861, he and the 1st Pennsylvania Cavalrymen were assigned to defensive duties.

Participating with his regiment in an advance on Manassas from March 10 to 15, he then engaged in McDowell's operations in and around Falmouth from April 9 to 19 of that year.

During this latter phase of service, he was promoted from the rank of sergeant to Chief Bugler and transferred from C Company to his regiment's field and staff officers' corps on May 1, 1863.

The Second Brigade, composed of the First Pennsylvania, First New Jersey, and the First Maryland, under the command of Colonel Wyndham, took the advance.... On arriving at Brandy Station, the enemy opened with his artillery, which was promptly answered, and the first Maryland ... charged [while] Colonel Taylor led a desperate charge upon the left and rear of the foe, reaching the Barbour House, where were General Stuart, his staff, and bodyguard, surrounded by cavalry.

The enemy failing to attack, Gregg moved toward Rappahannock Station, where he was again engaged, the First Pennsylvania supporting a battery.

An artillery duel was kept up for nearly two hours, when Colonel Taylor was ordered to report, with his command, to General Buford, at Beverly Ford.

"Two days later when marching across the former battlefield of Bull Run, his regiment clashed again with Confederates — this time at Aldie on June 22.

[12] Following his honorable discharge from the military, Landis returned home to Mifflin County, where he resumed his work as a plasterer and married.

[15] The citation presented with Landis’ Medal of Honor reads the following: Rank and organization: Chief Bugler, 1st Pennsylvania Cavalry.