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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Corporal · U.S. Army

Irwin Shepard

Corporal Irwin Shepard, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on November 20, 1863 in Knoxville, Tennessee during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War November 20, 1863

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Corporal Irwin Shepard received the Medal of Honor for his actions on November 20, 1863 in Knoxville, Tennessee during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company E, 17th Michigan Infantry. Shepard was 20 years old.

3 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on August 3, 1897, 33 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of First Sergeant.

Shepard was born on July 5, 1843 in Skaneateles, Onondaga County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to Chelsea, Washtenaw County, Michigan. Shepard died on April 17, 1916, at the age of 72. He is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Winona, Minnesota.

Shepard is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 112 credited to Michigan.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Having voluntarily accompanied a small party to destroy buildings within the enemy's lines, whence sharpshooters had been firing, disregarded an order to retire, remained, and completed the firing of the buildings, thus insuring their total destruction; this at the imminent risk of his life from the fire of the advancing enemy.

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

Life beyond the battlefield

  • Occupations: politician, educator

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: Skaneateles — map
  • Buried: Woodlawn Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Michigan →

Timeline

  1. July 5, 1843
    Born in Skaneateles, Onondaga County, New York
  2. November 20, 1863
    Act of valor — Knoxville, Tennessee
    Age 20. Company E, 17th Michigan Infantry
  3. August 3, 1897
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. April 17, 1916
    Died
    Age 72.
  5. Resting place
    Woodlawn Cemetery
    Winona, Minnesota

Biography

Irwin Shepard (5 July 1843 – 17 April 1916) was a first sergeant in the United States Army who earned the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the American Civil War. On 20 November 1863, he volunteered to join a group of men who were tasked with burning down several farm buildings that Confederate sharpshooters were using to shoot at Union units near Knoxville, Tennessee. For the successful completion of this task, Shepard was awarded the Medal of Honor on 3 August 1897.

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

Also honored for actions on November 20, 1863

JF John A. Falconer Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 Cornelius Minor Hadley Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 Andrew John Kelley Private · Army Civil War · 1863

Same unit

DM Daniel Robert McFall Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864

More Civil War recipients from Michigan

William G. Whitney Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 James W. Toban Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 AF Alexander A. Forman Corporal · Army Civil War · 1862 BY Benjamin F. Young Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 Cornelius Cronin Chief Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1864 George E. Ranney Assistant Surgeon · Army Civil War · 1864
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.