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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Sergeant · U.S. Army

John Brosnan

Sergeant John Brosnan, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on June 17, 1864 in Petersburg, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War June 17, 1864Born in Ireland

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Sergeant John Brosnan received the Medal of Honor for his actions on June 17, 1864 in Petersburg, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company E, 164th New York Infantry. Brosnan was 17 years old.

12 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on January 18, 1894, 29 years after the action.

Brosnan was born on July 1, 1846 in Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York, New York. Brosnan died on August 7, 1921 in Brooklyn, New York, at the age of 75. He is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.

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

★ Rescue & Lifesaving

Official Medal of Honor citation

Rescued a wounded comrade who lay exposed to the enemy's fire, receiving a severe wound in the effort.

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

Battles and campaigns

1864 · Civil War

Second Battle of Petersburg

Result: Confederate victory

8 Medal of Honor recipients

Places

  • Born: Ireland — map
  • Died: Brooklyn — map
  • Buried: Holy Cross Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. July 1, 1846
    Born in Ireland
  2. June 17, 1864
    Act of valor — Petersburg, Virginia
    Age 17. Company E, 164th New York Infantry
  3. January 18, 1894
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. August 7, 1921
    Died in Brooklyn, New York
    Age 75.
  5. Resting place
    Holy Cross Cemetery
    Brooklyn, New York

Biography

Sergeant John Brosnan (July 1, 1846 – August 7, 1921) was an Irish soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Brosnan received the United States' highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the Second Battle of Petersburg in Virginia on July 17, 1864. He was awarded the medal on January 18, 1894.

From the Wikipedia article “John Brosnan (soldier)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Further reading

Also honored for actions on June 17, 1864

HC Henry Flint Chandler Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 William Donaldson Dickey Captain · Army Civil War · 1864 JH John H. Harbourne Private · Army Civil War · 1864 HM Henry Coddington Meyer Captain · Army Civil War · 1864 PM Patrick H. Monaghan Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 Francis Morrison Private · Army Civil War · 1864 George H. Plowman Sergeant Major · Army Civil War · 1864 Robert Alexander Reid Private · Army Civil War · 1864 HR Henry Walker Rowe Private · Army Civil War · 1864 BS Bernard A. Strausburgh First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 ✦ JW John H. Wageman Private · Army Civil War · 1864 BY Benjamin F. Young Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864

Same unit

PD Patrick H. Doody Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864

More Civil War recipients from New York

PS Philipp Schlachter Private · Army Civil War · 1864 LP Loron F. Packard Private · Army Civil War · 1863 JM John Miller Private · Army Civil War · 1865 WH William Hinnegan Second Class Fireman · Navy Civil War · 1864 WH William W. Halstead Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1864 Bernard Harley Ordinary Seaman · 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.