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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

Thomas Kelly

Private Thomas Kelly, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on August 16, 1864 in Front Royal, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War August 16, 1864Born in Ireland

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Private Thomas Kelly received the Medal of Honor for his actions on August 16, 1864 in Front Royal, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company A, 6th New York Cavalry. Kelly was about 27 years old.

3 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on August 26, 1864.

Kelly was born in 1837 in Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York, New York.

Kelly 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 flag.

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

Timeline

  1. 1837
    Born in Ireland
  2. August 16, 1864
    Act of valor — Front Royal, Virginia
    Age about 27. Company A, 6th New York Cavalry
  3. August 26, 1864
    Medal of Honor presented

Also honored for actions on August 16, 1864

HH Henry M. Hardenbergh Private · Army Civil War · 1864 ✦ WL William Edman Leonard Private · Army Civil War · 1864 JS John Shellenberger Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864

More Civil War recipients from New York

Alonzo H. Cushing First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1863 ✦ WP William Pelham Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1864 AR Alexander Robinson Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1864 RB Robert Brown Captain of the Top · Navy Civil War · 1864 JK John Kaiser First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1862 Andrew Jackson Lorish Commissary 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.