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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Sergeant · U.S. Army

Cornelius Donavan

Sergeant Cornelius Donavan, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on August 25, 1869 at Agua Fria River, Arizona during the Indian Campaigns.

Indian Campaigns August 25, 1869Born in Ireland

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Sergeant Cornelius Donavan received the Medal of Honor for his actions on August 25, 1869 at Agua Fria River, Arizona during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with Company E, 8th U.S. Cavalry. Donavan was about 30 years old.

6 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on March 3, 1870.

Donavan was born in 1839 in County Cork, Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York, New York. Donavan died on July 20, 1895 in Washington, District of Columbia, at the age of about 56. He is buried at Soldiers' Home National Cemetery in Washington, District of Columbia. Records also list him as Donovan, Cornelius.

Donavan is one of 426 Medal of Honor recipients from the Indian Campaigns and one of 678 credited to New York.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Gallantry in action.

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

Timeline

  1. 1839
    Born in County Cork, Ireland
  2. August 25, 1869
    Act of valor — Agua Fria River, Arizona
    Age about 30. Company E, 8th U.S. Cavalry
  3. March 3, 1870
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. July 20, 1895
    Died in Washington, District of Columbia
    Age about 56.
  5. Resting place
    Soldiers' Home National Cemetery
    Washington, District of Columbia

Also honored for actions on August 25, 1869

MC Michael Corcoran Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1869 FH Frank Hamilton Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1869 HM Herbert Mahers Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1869 JM John Moran Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1869 PM Philip Murphy Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1869 TM Thomas Murphy Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1869

Same unit

JG Jacob Gunther Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1868 DM David A. Matthews Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1868 JM James McNally First Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1868 JM John Moriarity Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns SR Samuel Richman Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1868

More Indian Campaigns recipients from New York

RB Richard Burke Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 RV Rudolph von Medem Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1872 RM Robert McPhelan Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 MD Michael Dawson Trumpeter · Army Indian Campaigns · 1875 MW Michael Welch Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1870 JS John P. Schnitzer Wagoner · Army Indian Campaigns · 1882
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.