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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Sergeant · U.S. Army

James Fegan

Sergeant James Fegan, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions in March 1868 at Plum Creek, Kansas during the Indian Campaigns.

Indian Campaigns March 1868Born in Ireland

Sergeant James Fegan, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry in March 1868 at Plum Creek, Kansas during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with Company H, 3d U.S. Infantry. Fegan was about 41 years old.

The medal was presented on October 19, 1878, 10 years after the action.

Fegan was born in 1827 in Athlone, County Westmeath, Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York, New York. Fegan died on June 25, 1886, at the age of about 59. He is buried at Custer Battlefield National Monument in Crow Agency, Montana.

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

★ Rescue & Lifesaving★ Single-Handed Actions

Official Medal of Honor citation

While in charge of a powder train en route from Fort Harker to Fort Dodge, Kan., was attacked by a party of desperadoes, who attempted to rescue a deserter in his charge and to fire the train. Sgt. Fegan, singlehandedly, repelled the attacking party, wounding two of them, and brought his train through in safety.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War, American Indian Wars.

Places

  • Born: Athlone — map
  • Died: Fort Shaw — map
  • Buried: Custer National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. 1827
    Born in Athlone, County Westmeath, Ireland
  2. March 1868
    Act of valor — Plum Creek, Kansas
    Age about 41. Company H, 3d U.S. Infantry
  3. October 19, 1878
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. June 25, 1886
    Died
    Age about 59.
  5. Resting place
    Custer Battlefield National Monument
    Crow Agency, Montana

Biography

Sergeant James Fegan (1827 – June 25, 1886) was an American soldier in the U.S. Army who served with the 2nd and 3rd U.S. Infantry during the American Civil War, and Indian Wars. In March 1868, while escorting a powder train en route from Fort Harker to Fort Dodge, Kansas, he single-handedly prevented a mob from blowing up the train to free an army deserter. For his efforts, he received the Medal of Honor. Fegan was popular and well known in the military during his lifetime. He was especially noted for his shrewdness and humor, having many colorful stories and anecdotes attributed to him. President Chester A. Arthur spoke of him in a special message to the United States Congress in 1882.

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

More Indian Campaigns recipients from New York

BJ Bernhard Jetter Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1890 RV Rudolph von Medem Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1872 TK Thomas Kelly Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874 JS John P. Schnitzer Wagoner · Army Indian Campaigns · 1882 CH Charles D. Harris Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1869 RB Richard Barrett First Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1872
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.