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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

First Lieutenant & Quartermaster · U.S. Army

Charles Joseph Murphy

First Lieutenant & Quartermaster Charles Joseph Murphy, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on July 21, 1861 at Bull Run, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War July 21, 1861Born in England

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, First Lieutenant & Quartermaster Charles Joseph Murphy received the Medal of Honor for his actions on July 21, 1861 at Bull Run, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 38th New York Infantry. Murphy was 29 years old.

9 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 5, 1898, 36 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Colonel.

Murphy was born on June 3, 1832 in Stockport, England — one of 98 recipients born in England. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York, New York. Murphy died on May 29, 1921 in New York, New York, at the age of 88. He is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Woodside, New York.

Murphy is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 678 credited to New York.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Took a rifle and voluntarily fought with his regiment in the ranks; when the regiment was forced back, voluntarily remained on the field caring for the wounded and was there taken prisoner.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Timeline

  1. June 3, 1832
    Born in Stockport, England
  2. July 21, 1861
    Act of valor — Bull Run, Virginia
    Age 29. 38th New York Infantry
  3. April 5, 1898
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. May 29, 1921
    Died in New York, New York
    Age 88.
  5. Resting place
    Calvary Cemetery
    Woodside, New York

Also honored for actions on July 21, 1861

Adelbert Ames First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1861 WC Walter Howard Cooke Captain · Army Civil War · 1861 John Frederic Hartranft Colonel · Army Civil War · 1861 Abiather J. Knowles Private · Army Civil War · 1861 OM Owen McGough Corporal · Army Civil War · 1861 JM John G. Merritt Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1861 HW Henry W. Wheeler Private · Army Civil War · 1861 Orlando Bolivar Willcox Colonel · Army Civil War · 1861 William Herbert Withington Captain · Army Civil War · 1861

More Civil War recipients from New York

LA Lester Archer Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 ✦ Henri Le fevre Brown Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 HC Hartwell B. Compson Major · Army Civil War · 1865 JW Jerry C. Wall Private · Army Civil War · 1863 AH Abram Pye Haring First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864 WT William Gardner Tracy Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1863
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.