Veteran in crisis? Dial 988 then press 1 · Text 838255 Next observance: Navy Birthday · October 13
Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

Samuel O. McElhinny

Private Samuel O. McElhinny, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on April 6, 1865 at Deatonsville (Sailor's Creek), Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War April 6, 1865

Private Samuel O. McElhinny, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on April 6, 1865 at Deatonsville (Sailor's Creek), Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company A, 2d West Virginia Cavalry. McElhinny was about 20 years old.

59 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on May 3, 1865.

McElhinny was born in 1845 in Meigs County, Ohio. His Medal of Honor is credited to Point Pleasant, Mason County, West Virginia. McElhinny died on May 15, 1923, at the age of about 78. He is buried at Pine Street Cemetery in Gallipolis, Ohio.

McElhinny is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 45 credited to West Virginia.

★ Flags & Colors

Official Medal of Honor citation

Capture of flag.

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

Timeline

  1. 1845
    Born in Meigs County, Ohio
  2. April 6, 1865
    Act of valor — Deatonsville (Sailor's Creek), Virginia
    Age about 20. Company A, 2d West Virginia Cavalry
  3. May 3, 1865
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. May 15, 1923
    Died
    Age about 78.
  5. Resting place
    Pine Street Cemetery
    Gallipolis, Ohio

Also honored for actions on April 6, 1865

JB John Francis Benjamin Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 OB Orrin Bennett Private · Army Civil War · 1865 HB Hugh Patterson Boon Captain · Army Civil War · 1865 Lewis Francis Brest Private · Army Civil War · 1865 AB Andrew Bringle Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 IC Ivers S. Calkin First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 JC John Chapman Private · Army Civil War · 1865 AC Albert Adams Clapp First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 TC Trustrim Connell Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 FC Francis Marion Cunningham First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 Thomas Ward Custer Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 TD Thomas Davis Private · Army Civil War · 1865

See all 60 recipients for April 6, 1865 →

More Civil War recipients from West Virginia

JC Josiah M. Curtis Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 JP Joel Parsons Private · Army Civil War · 1863 JD James R. Durham Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1863 JE John N. Eckes Private · Army Civil War · 1863 William H. Horsfall Drummer · Army Civil War · 1862 James Madison Burns Sergeant · 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.