Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Private Terrence Begley was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions on June 3, 1864 at Cold Harbor, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company D, 7th New York Heavy Artillery.
5 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on December 1, 1864.
Begley was born in Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Albany, Albany County, New York. Begley died on August 25, 1864 in Weldon RR, Reams Station, Virginia.
Begley 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
Shot a Confederate color bearer, 26th Virginia Infantry, rushed forward and seized his colors, and although exposed to heavy fire, regained the lines in safety.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Places
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Timeline
- Date unknownBorn in Ireland
- June 3, 1864Act of valor — Cold Harbor, VirginiaCompany D, 7th New York Heavy Artillery
- August 25, 1864Died in Weldon RR, Reams Station, Virginia
- December 1, 1864Medal of Honor presented posthumously
Biography
Sergeant Terrence Begley (died 25 August 1864) was an Irish soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Begley was awarded the United States' highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action during the Battle of Cold Harbor in Cold Harbor, Virginia on 3 June 1864. He was honored posthumously with the award on 1 December 1864.
From the Wikipedia article “Terrence Begley”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
