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Private · U.S. Army

Michael Dougherty

Private Michael Dougherty, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on October 12, 1863 in Jefferson, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War October 12, 1863Born in Ireland

Private Michael Dougherty, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on October 12, 1863 in Jefferson, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company B, 13th Pennsylvania Cavalry (Volunteers 117th Regiment). Dougherty was 19 years old.

The medal was presented on January 23, 1897, 33 years after the action.

Dougherty was born on May 10, 1844 in Falcarragh, County Donegal, Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Dougherty died on February 19, 1930 in Bristol, Pennsylvania, at the age of 85. He is buried at St. Mark's Cemetery in Bristol, Pennsylvania.

Dougherty is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.

Official Medal of Honor citation

At the head of a detachment of his company, he dashed across an open field, exposed to a deadly fire from the enemy, and succeeded in dislodging them from an unoccupied house, which he and his comrades defended for several hours against repeated attacks, thus preventing the enemy from flanking the position of the Union forces.

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

Places

  • Born: An Fál Carrach — map
  • Died: Bristol — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →

Timeline

  1. May 10, 1844
    Born in Falcarragh, County Donegal, Ireland
  2. October 12, 1863
    Act of valor — Jefferson, Virginia
    Age 19. Company B, 13th Pennsylvania Cavalry (Volunteers 117th Regiment)
  3. January 23, 1897
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. February 19, 1930
    Died in Bristol, Pennsylvania
    Age 85.
  5. Resting place
    St. Mark's Cemetery
    Bristol, Pennsylvania

Biography

Private Michael Dougherty (10 May 1844 – 19 February 1930) was an Irish soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Dougherty received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action at Jefferson, Virginia, on 12 October 1863. He was honored with the award on 23 January 1897.

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

More Civil War recipients from Pennsylvania

Isaac N. Fry Orderly Sergeant · Marine Corps Civil War · 1865 HB Henry G. Bonebrake First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 Thomas W. Hoffman Captain · Army Civil War · 1865 WC Walter Howard Cooke Captain · Army Civil War · 1861 HD Hiram Adolphus Delavie Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 HH Henderson Calvin Howard Corporal · Army Civil War · 1862
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.