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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Lieutenant Colonel · U.S. Army

John Coughlin

Lieutenant Colonel John Coughlin, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on May 9, 1864 at Swift Creek, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War May 9, 1864

Lieutenant Colonel John Coughlin, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on May 9, 1864 at Swift Creek, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 10th New Hampshire Infantry (Irish Regiment). Coughlin was about 27 years old.

One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on August 31, 1893, 29 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Brevet Brigadier General.

Coughlin was born in 1837 in Vermont. His Medal of Honor is credited to Manchester, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire. Coughlin died on May 27, 1912 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, at the age of about 75. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

Coughlin is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 35 credited to New Hampshire.

Official Medal of Honor citation

During a sudden night attack upon Burnham's Brigade, resulting in much confusion, this officer, without waiting for orders, led his regiment forward and interposed a line of battle between the advancing enemy and Hunt's Battery, repulsing the attack and saving the guns.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: Battle of Swift Creek.

Places

  • Born: Williamstown — map
  • Died: Virginia — map
  • Buried: Arlington National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New Hampshire →

Timeline

  1. 1837
    Born in Vermont
  2. May 9, 1864
    Act of valor — Swift Creek, Virginia
    Age about 27. 10th New Hampshire Infantry (Irish Regiment)
  3. August 31, 1893
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. May 27, 1912
    Died in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
    Age about 75.
  5. Resting place
    Arlington National Cemetery
    Arlington, Virginia

Biography

John Coughlin (1837 to May 20, 1912) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Coughlin received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action at Swifts Creek in Virginia on 9 May 1864. He was honored with the award on 31 August 1893.

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

Also honored for actions on May 9, 1864

DF Daniel Tweed Ferrier Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864

More Civil War recipients from New Hampshire

GD George P. Dow Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 WW William H. Wilcox Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 Charles Jenks Simons Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 WT William Tilton Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 Daniel Griffin George Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864 CC Carlton N. Camp 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.