Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Private John Kennedy received the Medal of Honor for his actions on June 11, 1864 at Trevilian Station, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company M, 2d U.S. Artillery. Kennedy was 30 years old.
3 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on August 19, 1892, 28 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Ordance Sergeant, Ret..
Kennedy was born on May 14, 1834 in Cavan, County Cavan, Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York, New York. Kennedy died on September 28, 1910 in Little Rock, Arkansas, at the age of 76. He is buried at Oakland Cemetery in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Kennedy is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 678 credited to New York.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Remained at his gun, resisting with its implements the advancing cavalry, and thus secured the retreat of his detachment.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
Timeline
- May 14, 1834Born in Cavan, County Cavan, Ireland
- June 11, 1864Act of valor — Trevilian Station, VirginiaAge 30. Company M, 2d U.S. Artillery
- August 19, 1892Medal of Honor presented
- September 28, 1910Died in Little Rock, ArkansasAge 76.
- Resting placeOakland CemeteryLittle Rock, Arkansas
Biography
John Kennedy (May 14, 1834 – September 28, 1910) was born a British subject in Ireland, and became an American citizen and a private in the Union Army. He received the United States military's highest decoration for bravery, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the Battle of Trevilian Station in the American Civil War.
From the Wikipedia article “John Kennedy (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
