Captain Cecil Clay was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on September 29, 1864 at Fort Harrison, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company K, 58th Pennsylvania Infantry. Clay was 22 years old.
37 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 19, 1892, 27 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Brevet Brigadier General.
Clay was born on February 13, 1842 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Clay died on September 23, 1907 in Washington, District of Columbia, at the age of 65. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
Clay is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Led his regiment in the charge, carrying the colors of another regiment, and when severely wounded in the right arm, incurring loss of same, he shifted the colors to the left hand, which also became disabled by a gunshot wound.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Timeline
- February 13, 1842Born in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
- September 29, 1864Act of valor — Fort Harrison, VirginiaAge 22. Company K, 58th Pennsylvania Infantry
- April 19, 1892Medal of Honor presented
- September 23, 1907Died in Washington, District of ColumbiaAge 65.
- Resting placeArlington National CemeteryArlington, Virginia
