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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

Samuel P. Kenyon

Private Samuel P. Kenyon, 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

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Private Samuel P. Kenyon received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 6, 1865 at Deatonsville (Sailor's Creek), Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company B, 24th New York Cavalry. Kenyon was about 19 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. He later rose to the rank of Quartermaster Sergeant.

Kenyon was born in 1846 in Ira, Cayuga County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to Augusta, Oneida County, New York. Kenyon died on June 14, 1884 in Cullen, New York, at the age of about 38. He is buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Richfield Springs, New York.

Kenyon is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 678 credited to New York.

★ Flags & Colors

Official Medal of Honor citation

Capture of battle flag.

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

Battles and campaigns

1865 · Civil War

Battle of Sailor's Creek

Result: Union victory

21 Medal of Honor recipients

Places

  • Born: Ira — map
  • Died: Cullen — map
  • Buried: Richfield Springs — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. 1846
    Born in Ira, Cayuga County, New York
  2. April 6, 1865
    Act of valor — Deatonsville (Sailor's Creek), Virginia
    Age about 19. Company B, 24th New York Cavalry
  3. May 3, 1865
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. June 14, 1884
    Died in Cullen, New York
    Age about 38.
  5. Resting place
    Lakeview Cemetery
    Richfield Springs, New York

Biography

Samuel P. Kenyon (1846 – June 14, 1884) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Kenyon received his country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor. Kenyon's medal was won for his capturing a flag at the Battle of Sailor's Creek, Virginia on April 6, 1865 He was honored with the award on May 3, 1865. Kenyon was born in Ira, New York, the son of Rev. Henry and Betsy (nee Brown) Kenyon. He joined the 24th New York Cavalry from Augusta, New York in February 1864. He was transferred to the 1st New York Provisional Cavalry in June 1865, and mustered out with this regiment the following month.

From the Wikipedia article “Samuel P. Kenyon”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

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 New York

LS Lebbeus Simkins Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1864 JW James W. Webb Private · Army Civil War · 1862 JW John Henry Weeks Private · Army Civil War · 1864 JN John H. Nibbe Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1864 JC James Coey Major · Army Civil War · 1865 John Henry Moffitt 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.