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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Musician · U.S. Army

Robinson Barr Murphy

Musician Robinson Barr Murphy, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on July 28, 1864 in Atlanta, Georgia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War July 28, 1864

Musician Robinson Barr Murphy, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on July 28, 1864 in Atlanta, Georgia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company A, 127th Illinois Infantry. Murphy was 15 years old.

3 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on July 22, 1890, 25 years after the action.

Murphy was born on May 11, 1849 in Oswego, Kendall County, Illinois. Murphy died on October 2, 1934 in Washington, District of Columbia, at the age of 85. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

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

Official Medal of Honor citation

Being orderly to the brigade commander, he voluntarily led two regiments as reinforcements into line of battle, where he had his horse shot under him.

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

Timeline

  1. May 11, 1849
    Born in Oswego, Kendall County, Illinois
  2. July 28, 1864
    Act of valor — Atlanta, Georgia
    Age 15. Company A, 127th Illinois Infantry
  3. July 22, 1890
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. October 2, 1934
    Died in Washington, District of Columbia
    Age 85.
  5. Resting place
    Arlington National Cemetery
    Arlington, Virginia

Also honored for actions on July 28, 1864

HD Harry Clay Davis Private · Army Civil War · 1864 TO Timothy O'Connor Private · Army Civil War · 1864 ET Ernest R. Torgler Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864

More Civil War recipients from Illinois

Horace Capron Jr. Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1862 ✦ Edward Burson Spalding Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1862 Newton Thomas Gould Private · Army Civil War · 1863 WS William G. Stephens Private · Army Civil War · 1863 JC John Henry Cook Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 EP Edward M. Pike First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1862
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.