James Coey

Major James Coey was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on February 6, 1865 at Hatcher's Run, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 147th New York Infantry. Coey was 23 years old.

9 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on May 12, 1892, 27 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Brevet Colonel U.S. Volunteers.

Coey was born on February 12, 1841 in New York, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to Oswego, Oswego County, New York. Coey died on July 14, 1918 in Berkeley, California, at the age of 77. He is buried at San Francisco National Cemetery in San Francisco, California.

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

★ Flags & Colors ★ Wounded but Fought On

Official Medal of Honor citation

Seized the regimental colors at a critical moment and by a prompt advance on the enemy caused the entire brigade to follow him; and, after himself being severely wounded, he caused himself to be lifted into the saddle and a second time rallied the line in an attempt to check the enemy.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

Born: Oswego — map
Died: San Francisco — map
Buried: San Francisco National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

February 12, 1841
Born in New York, New York
February 6, 1865
Act of valor — Hatcher's Run, Virginia
Age 23. 147th New York Infantry
May 12, 1892
Medal of Honor presented
July 14, 1918
Died in Berkeley, California
Age 77.
Resting place
San Francisco National Cemetery
San Francisco, California

Biography

James Coey (February 12, 1841 – July 14, 1918) was a United States military officer who fought with the Union Army as a member of the 147th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the American Civil War. Twice brevetted for "conspicuous gallantry" and "meritorious service", he also received his nation's highest award for valor, the U.S. Medal of Honor, which was conferred on May 12, 1892, in recognition of his efforts to rally his brigade around regimental colors and inspire a charge on the enemy during the Battle of Hatcher's Run, Virginia on February 6, 1865. Post-war, he held multiple federal and state government positions, including: U.S.

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

Also honored for actions on February 6, 1865

AC Abel G. Cadwallader Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 DC Daniel G. Caldwell Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 CD Charles Day Private · Army Civil War · 1865

John Carroll Delaney Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 JS John Christopher Sagelhurst Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 WS William Sands First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 FS Francis M. Smith First Lieutenant & Adjutant · Army Civil War · 1865 JT John J. Thompson Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865

John Mitchell Vanderslice Private · Army Civil War · 1865

More Civil War recipients from New York

George Washington Brush Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864 GH George Hollat Third Class Boy · Navy Civil War · 1862 GM George E. Meach Farrier · Army Civil War · 1864 JC James A. Campbell Private · Army Civil War · 1865 LA Lester Archer Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 ✦ RB Robert Brown Captain of the Top · Navy 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.