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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

James Allen

Private James Allen, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on September 14, 1862 at South Mountain, Maryland during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War September 14, 1862Born in Ireland

Private James Allen, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on September 14, 1862 at South Mountain, Maryland during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company F, 16th New York Infantry. Allen was 19 years old.

4 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on September 11, 1890, 27 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Corporal.

Allen was born on May 5, 1843 in Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Potsdam, St. Lawrence County, New York. Allen died on August 31, 1913 in St. Paul, Minnesota, at the age of 70. He is buried at Oakland Cemetery in St. Paul, Minnesota.

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

★ Single-Handed Actions

Official Medal of Honor citation

Singlehandedly and slightly wounded he accosted a squad of 14 Confederate soldiers bearing the colors of the 16th Georgia Infantry (C.S.A.). By an imaginary ruse he secured their surrender and kept them at bay when the regimental commander discovered him and rode away for assistance.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Ireland — map
  • Died: Saint Paul — map
  • Buried: Oakland Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. May 5, 1843
    Born in Ireland
  2. September 14, 1862
    Act of valor — South Mountain, Maryland
    Age 19. Company F, 16th New York Infantry
  3. September 11, 1890
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. August 31, 1913
    Died in St. Paul, Minnesota
    Age 70.
  5. Resting place
    Oakland Cemetery
    St. Paul, Minnesota

Biography

James Allen (May 5, 1843 – August 31, 1913) was an Irish-born Union Army soldier during the American Civil War. He earned the Medal of Honor for bravery at the Battle of South Mountain on September 14, 1862, during the Maryland campaign. On April 24, 1861, shortly after the outbreak of the American Civil War, James Allen enlisted in Company F of the 16th New York Infantry. He earned the Medal of Honor for gallantry in action at the Battle of South Mountain on September 14, 1862. During the battle, Allen singlehandedly captured 14 Confederate soldiers of the 16th Georgia Infantry, who had mistakenly believed they were opposed by a superior force.

From the Wikipedia article “James Allen (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on September 14, 1862

Orlando Emanuel Caruana Private · Army Civil War · 1862 John Porter Hatch Brigadier General · Army Civil War · 1862 GH George White Hooker First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1862 Leonidas H. Inscho Corporal · Army Civil War · 1862

More Civil War recipients from New York

JH John H. Haight Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1861 WM William McKnight Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1862 Francis Irsch Captain · Army Civil War · 1863 John Cleveland Robinson Brigadier General · Army Civil War · 1864 MC Michael Crowley Private · Army Civil War · 1865 WD Warren C. Dockum Private · Army Civil War · 1865
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.