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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Seaman · U.S. Navy

John Hyland

Seaman John Hyland, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on May 5, 1864 at Red River, Louisiana during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War May 5, 1864Born in Ireland

Seaman John Hyland, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on May 5, 1864 at Red River, Louisiana during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Signal. Hyland was about 45 years old.

13 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. He later rose to the rank of Assistant Gunner.

Hyland was born in 1819 in Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Illinois. Hyland died on August 10, 1867 in Manistee, Michigan, at the age of about 48. He is buried at Oak Grove Cemetery in Manistee, Michigan.

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

★ Wounded but Fought On

Official Medal of Honor citation

Served as seaman on board the U.S.S. Signal which was attacked by field batteries and sharpshooters and destroyed in Red River, 5 May 1864. Proceeding up the Red River, the U.S.S. Signal engaged a large force of enemy field batteries and sharpshooters, returning their fire until the ship was totally disabled, at which time the white flag was raised. Although wounded, Hyland courageously went in full view of several hundred sharpshooters and let go the anchor, and again to slip the cable, when he was again wounded by the raking enemy fire.

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

Wounds and injuries

What the citation records about his wounds:

Although wounded, Hyland courageously went in full view of several hundred sharpshooters and let go the anchor, and again to slip the cable, when he was again wounded by the raking enemy fire.

Timeline

  1. 1819
    Born in Ireland
  2. May 5, 1864
    Act of valor — Red River, Louisiana
    Age about 45. U.S.S. Signal
  3. August 10, 1867
    Died in Manistee, Michigan
    Age about 48.
  4. Resting place
    Oak Grove Cemetery
    Manistee, Michigan

Biography

John Hyland (1819 – August 10, 1867) was an American soldier and recipient of the Medal of Honor.

From the Wikipedia article “John Hyland (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on May 5, 1864

CA Charles Asten Quarter Gunner · Navy Civil War · 1864 Abram J. Buckles Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 GB George Butts Gunner's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1864 JE James Robert Evans Private · Army Civil War · 1864 Peter Grace Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 MM Michael McCormick Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1864 Charles E. Morse Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 TO Timothy O'Donoghue Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864 JO John N. Opel Private · Army Civil War · 1864 John Henry Patterson First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864 Carlos H. Rich First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 Jacob E. Swap Private · Army Civil War · 1864

See all 14 recipients for May 5, 1864 →

More Civil War recipients from Illinois

JC John H. Callahan Private · Army Civil War · 1865 JP James W. Parks Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 JD James Dunne Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 George Henry Stockman First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1863 SM Samuel McConnell Captain · Army Civil War · 1865 PM Patrick McGuire Private · Army Civil War · 1863
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.