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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

John H. Callahan

Private John H. Callahan, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on April 9, 1865 at Fort Blakely, Alabama during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War April 9, 1865

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Private John H. Callahan received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 9, 1865 at Fort Blakely, Alabama during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company B, 122d Illinois Infantry. Callahan was 20 years old.

18 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on July 12, 1865 — presented by Lieutenant J. J. Lyon, assistant inspector-general of the Sixteenth Army Corps, at parade.

Callahan was born on January 25, 1845 in Shelby County, Kentucky. His Medal of Honor is credited to Scottville, Macoupin County, Illinois. Callahan died on March 13, 1914 in Manhattan, Kansas, at the age of 69. He is buried at Sunset Cemetery in Manhattan, Kansas.

Callahan is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 210 credited to Illinois.

★ Flags & Colors

Official Medal of Honor citation

Capture of flag.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Shelby County — map
  • Died: Manhattan — map
  • Buried: Sunset Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Illinois →

Timeline

  1. January 25, 1845
    Born in Shelby County, Kentucky
  2. April 9, 1865
    Act of valor — Fort Blakely, Alabama
    Age 20. Company B, 122d Illinois Infantry
  3. July 12, 1865
    Medal of Honor presented
    Presented by Lieutenant J. J. Lyon, assistant inspector-general of the Sixteenth Army Corps, at parade.
  4. March 13, 1914
    Died in Manhattan, Kansas
    Age 69.
  5. Resting place
    Sunset Cemetery
    Manhattan, Kansas

Biography

John H. Callahan (January 25, 1845 – March 13, 1914) was one of two men from the 122nd Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment to receive the Medal of Honor during the American Civil War. Callahan was a private in Company B. The medal was awarded for capturing a Confederate flag during the Battle of Fort Blakeley on April 9, 1865; he was one of fourteen men awarded with the Medal of Honor at this battle. Callahan joined the Army in August 1862, and was mustered out in July 1865. He died on March 13, 1914, in Manhattan, Kansas and is buried in Sunset Cemetery.

From the Wikipedia article “John H. Callahan”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on April 9, 1865

James Lemuel Carey Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 JD John P. Donaldson Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 Henry S. Finkenbiner Private · Army Civil War · 1865 WF West Funk Major · Army Civil War · 1865 SM Samuel McConnell Captain · Army Civil War · 1865 Henry Clay Merriam Lieutenant Colonel · Army Civil War · 1865 HM Henry August Miller Captain · Army Civil War · 1865 DM Daniel B. Moore Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 WM William H. Myers Private · Army Civil War · 1865 HN Henry Clay Nichols Captain · Army Civil War · 1865 TP Thomas H. l Payne First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 Patrick Henry Pentzer Captain · Army Civil War · 1865

See all 19 recipients for April 9, 1865 →

More Civil War recipients from Illinois

WS William G. Stephens Private · Army Civil War · 1863 Thomas J. Higgins Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 Thomas J. Ward Private · Army Civil War · 1863 WT William Toomer Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 WS William Thomas Simmons First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864 JM James K. Merrifield Corporal · Army 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.