First Sergeant Edward Lyons Gilligan, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on July 1, 1863 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company E, 88th Pennsylvania Infantry. Gilligan was 20 years old.
9 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 30, 1892, 28 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Captain.
Gilligan was born on April 18, 1843 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Gilligan died on April 2, 1922 in Oxford, Pennsylvania, at the age of 78. He is buried at Oxford Cemetery in Oxford, Pennsylvania.
Gilligan 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
Assisted in the capture of a Confederate flag by knocking down the color sergeant.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →
Timeline
- April 18, 1843Born in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
- July 1, 1863Act of valor — Gettysburg, PennsylvaniaAge 20. Company E, 88th Pennsylvania Infantry
- April 30, 1892Medal of Honor presented
- April 2, 1922Died in Oxford, PennsylvaniaAge 78.
- Resting placeOxford CemeteryOxford, Pennsylvania
Biography
Edward Lyons Gilligan (April 18, 1843 – April 2, 1922) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Gilligan received his country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor. Gilligan's medal was won after he assisted in the capture of a Confederate flag. He was honored with the award on April 30, 1892. Gilligan joined the Army from Philadelphia in October 1861. He was commissioned as an officer in October 1864, and mustered out with his regiment in June 1865. Gilligan was buried in Oxford, Pennsylvania.
From the Wikipedia article “Edward L. Gilligan”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
