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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Second Lieutenant · U.S. Army

Charles McAnally

Second Lieutenant Charles McAnally, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on May 12, 1864 in Spotsylvania, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War May 12, 1864Born in Ireland

Second Lieutenant Charles McAnally, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on May 12, 1864 in Spotsylvania, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company D, 69th Pennsylvania Infantry. McAnally was 28 years old.

34 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on August 2, 1897, 33 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Captain.

McAnally was born on May 12, 1836 in Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. McAnally died on August 8, 1905 in Washington, District of Columbia, at the age of 69.

McAnally is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.

★ Flags & Colors★ Wounded but Fought On

Official Medal of Honor citation

In a hand-to-hand encounter with the enemy captured flag, was wounded in the act, but continued on duty until he received a second wound.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: County Londonderry — map
  • Died: Austin — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →

From the archives

Charles McAnally died at a hospital in Washington, D.C., and was buried as an indigent on August 10, 1905, in a Potter's Field.

Timeline

  1. May 12, 1836
    Born in Ireland
  2. May 12, 1864
    Act of valor — Spotsylvania, Virginia
    Age 28. Company D, 69th Pennsylvania Infantry
  3. August 2, 1897
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. August 8, 1905
    Died in Washington, District of Columbia
    Age 69.

Biography

Captain Charles McAnally (May 12, 1836 – 1905) was a United States Army officer who served in the American Civil War. Severely wounded in action while fighting as a first lieutenant with Company D of the 69th Pennsylvania Infantry at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House on May 12, 1864, he captured a Confederate States Army flag during hand-to-hand combat, and was subsequently awarded the United States' highest commendation for valor, the Medal of Honor, on October 15, 1872.

From the Wikipedia article “Charles McAnally”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on May 12, 1864

FA Frederick Alber Private · Army Civil War · 1864 RA Robert Wesley Ammerman Private · Army Civil War · 1864 NB Nathaniel C. Barker Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 John P. Beech Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 FB Francis A. Bishop Private · Army Civil War · 1864 EB E. Michael Burk Private · Army Civil War · 1864 DC Dayton P. Clarke Captain · Army Civil War · 1864 CC Charles H. Clausen First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864 CF Charles S. Fall Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 Charles H. Fasnacht Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 Archibald Freeman Private · Army Civil War · 1864 GH George W. Harris Private · Army Civil War · 1864

See all 35 recipients for May 12, 1864 →

More Civil War recipients from Pennsylvania

Matthew Stanley Quay Colonel · Army Civil War · 1862 WD William Doolen Coal Heaver · Navy Civil War · 1864 Jacob E. Swap Private · Army Civil War · 1864 GR George W. Reed Private · Army Civil War · 1864 JK John Kinsey Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 HP Hiram W. Purcell Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1862
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.