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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Captain · U.S. Army

Samuel McConnell

Captain Samuel McConnell, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on April 9, 1865 at Fort Blakely, Alabama during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War April 9, 1865

Captain Samuel McConnell, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on April 9, 1865 at Fort Blakely, Alabama during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company H, 119th Illinois Infantry. McConnell was 34 years old.

18 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on July 12, 1865 — presented by Lieutenant J. J. Lyon, assistant inspector-general of the Sixteenth Army Corps, at parade.

McConnell was born on June 1, 1830 in Belmont County, Ohio. His Medal of Honor is credited to Bushnell, McDonough County, Illinois. McConnell died on March 26, 1915 in Havelock, Nebraska, at the age of 84. He is buried at Arborville Rural Cemetery in Bradshaw, Nebraska.

McConnell 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

While leading his company in an assault, Capt. McConnell braved an intense fire that mowed down his unit. Upon reaching the breastworks, he found that he had only one member of his company with him, Pvt. Wagner. He was so close to an enemy gun that the blast knocked him down a ditch. Getting up, he entered the gun pit, the gun crew fleeing before him. About 30 paces away he saw a Confederate flag bearer and guard which he captured with the last shot in his pistol.

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

Timeline

  1. June 1, 1830
    Born in Belmont County, Ohio
  2. April 9, 1865
    Act of valor — Fort Blakely, Alabama
    Age 34. Company H, 119th Illinois Infantry
  3. July 12, 1865
    Medal of Honor presented
    Presented by Lieutenant J. J. Lyon, assistant inspector-general of the Sixteenth Army Corps, at parade.
  4. March 26, 1915
    Died in Havelock, Nebraska
    Age 84.
  5. Resting place
    Arborville Rural Cemetery
    Bradshaw, Nebraska

Further reading

Also honored for actions on April 9, 1865

JC John H. Callahan Private · Army Civil War · 1865 James Lemuel Carey Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 JD John P. Donaldson Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 Henry S. Finkenbiner Private · Army Civil War · 1865 WF West Funk Major · Army Civil War · 1865 Henry Clay Merriam Lieutenant Colonel · Army Civil War · 1865 HM Henry August Miller Captain · Army Civil War · 1865 DM Daniel B. Moore Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 WM William H. Myers Private · Army Civil War · 1865 HN Henry Clay Nichols Captain · Army Civil War · 1865 TP Thomas H. l Payne First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 Patrick Henry Pentzer Captain · Army Civil War · 1865

See all 19 recipients for April 9, 1865 →

More Civil War recipients from Illinois

RG Richard J. Gage Private · Army Civil War · 1863 John Mcgreath Farquhar Sergeant Major · Army Civil War · 1862 CK Charles H. Kloth Private · Army Civil War · 1863 GS George Stokes Private · Army Civil War · 1864 JV James David Vernay Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1863 Douglas Hapeman Lieutenant Colonel · Army 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.