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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

Joseph Henry Shea

Private Joseph Henry Shea, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on September 29, 1864 at Chapin's Farm, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War September 29, 1864

Private Joseph Henry Shea was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on September 29, 1864 at Chapin's Farm, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company K, 92d New York Infantry. Shea was about 16 years old.

37 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on March 1866, 2 years after the action.

Shea was born in 1848 in Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland. His Medal of Honor is credited to New Bern, Craven County, North Carolina.

Shea is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 22 credited to North Carolina.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Gallantry in bringing wounded from the field under heavy fire.

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

Timeline

  1. 1848
    Born in Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland
  2. September 29, 1864
    Act of valor — Chapin's Farm, Virginia
    Age about 16. Company K, 92d New York Infantry
  3. March 1866
    Medal of Honor presented

Also honored for actions on September 29, 1864

LA Lester Archer Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 ✦ WB William Henry Barnes Private · Army Civil War · 1864 Powhatan Beaty First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 TB Thomas Belcher Private · Army Civil War · 1864 CB Charles Blucher Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 JB James Brady Private · Army Civil War · 1864 JB James H. Bronson First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 GB George A. Buchanan Private · Army Civil War · 1864 ✦ FB Frederick Clarence Buck Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 CC Cecil Clay Captain · Army Civil War · 1864 NE Nathan Huntley Edgerton First Lieutenant & Adjutant · Army Civil War · 1864 AF Augustin D. Flanagan Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864

See all 38 recipients for September 29, 1864 →

More Civil War recipients from North Carolina

JS James Stoddard Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.