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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Corporal · U.S. Army

Patrick Highland

Corporal Patrick Highland, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on April 2, 1865 in Petersburg, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War April 2, 1865Born in Ireland

Corporal Patrick Highland was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 2, 1865 in Petersburg, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company D, 23d Illinois Infantry. Highland was about 23 years old.

65 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on May 12, 1865. He later rose to the rank of Sergeant.

Highland was born in 1842 in Tipperary, Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.

Highland 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

Conspicuous gallantry as color bearer in the assault on Fort Gregg.

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

Battles and campaigns

1865 · Civil War

Third Battle of Petersburg

Result: Union victory: End of the Siege of Petersburg and opening of the Appomattox Campaign

21 Medal of Honor recipients

Places

  • Born: Tipperary — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Illinois →

Timeline

  1. 1842
    Born in Tipperary, Ireland
  2. April 2, 1865
    Act of valor — Petersburg, Virginia
    Age about 23. Company D, 23d Illinois Infantry
  3. May 12, 1865
    Medal of Honor presented

Biography

Patrick Highland was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Highland received his country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor. Highland's medal was won for his 'conspicuous gallantry as Color Bearer' in the assault on Fort Gregg during the Third Battle of Petersburg, in Virginia on April 2, 1865. He was honored with the award on May 12, 1865. Highland was born in Tipperary, Ireland, and in February 1864 (at the age of 22) joined the US Army from Chicago. He mustered out with his regiment in July 1865.

From the Wikipedia article “Patrick Highland”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on April 2, 1865

AA Abner Peeler Allen Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 AA Andrew O. Apple Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 William J. Babcock Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 JB James Albert Barber Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 EB Eugene Beauharnais Beaumont Major and Assistant Adjutant General · Army Civil War · 1865 William Robert douglas Blackwood Surgeon · Army Civil War · 1865 JB John W. Boutwell Private · Army Civil War · 1865 JB John E. Buffington Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 CC Carlton N. Camp Private · Army Civil War · 1865 JC John Corcoran Private · Army Civil War · 1865 Stephen Potter Corliss First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 JC Josiah M. Curtis Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865

See all 66 recipients for April 2, 1865 →

Same unit

JC John Creed Private · Army Civil War · 1864

More Civil War recipients from Illinois

James Smith Cunningham Private · Army Civil War · 1863 RS Reuben S. Smalley Private · Army Civil War · 1863 JP James W. Parks Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 William W. Fraser Private · Army Civil War · 1863 John Mcgreath Farquhar Sergeant Major · Army Civil War · 1862 John Charles Black Lieutenant Colonel · 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.