Corporal Stephen O'Neill, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on May 1, 1863 in Chancellorsville, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company E, 7th U.S. Infantry. O'Neill was 25 years old.
The medal was presented on September 28, 1891, 28 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Ordance Sergeant Ret..
O'Neill was born on December 23, 1837 in St. Johns, Canada — one of 60 recipients born in Canada. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York, New York. O'Neill died on October 20, 1909 in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, at the age of 71. He is buried at Riverside Cemetery in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.
O'Neill is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 678 credited to New York.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Took up the colors from the hands of the color bearer who had been shot down and bore them through the remainder of the battle.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Timeline
- December 23, 1837Born in St. Johns, Canada
- May 1, 1863Act of valor — Chancellorsville, VirginiaAge 25. Company E, 7th U.S. Infantry
- September 28, 1891Medal of Honor presented
- October 20, 1909Died in Sault Ste. Marie, MichiganAge 71.
- Resting placeRiverside CemeterySault Ste. Marie, Michigan
