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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Sergeant · U.S. Army

Thomas McGraw

Sergeant Thomas McGraw, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on April 2, 1865 in Petersburg, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War April 2, 1865Born in Ireland

Sergeant Thomas McGraw was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 2, 1865 in Petersburg, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company B, 23d Illinois Infantry. McGraw was about 31 years old.

65 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on May 12, 1865.

McGraw was born in 1834 in Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. McGraw died on September 22, 1899 in LaCrosse, Kansas, at the age of about 65. He is buried at LaCrosse City Cemetery in LaCrosse, Kansas.

McGraw is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 210 credited to Illinois.

Official Medal of Honor citation

One of the three soldiers most conspicuous for gallantry in the final assault.

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

Timeline

  1. 1834
    Born in Ireland
  2. April 2, 1865
    Act of valor — Petersburg, Virginia
    Age about 31. Company B, 23d Illinois Infantry
  3. May 12, 1865
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. September 22, 1899
    Died in LaCrosse, Kansas
    Age about 65.
  5. Resting place
    LaCrosse City Cemetery
    LaCrosse, Kansas

Also honored for actions on April 2, 1865

AA Abner Peeler Allen Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 AA Andrew O. Apple Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 William J. Babcock Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 JB James Albert Barber Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 EB Eugene Beauharnais Beaumont Major and Assistant Adjutant General · Army Civil War · 1865 William Robert douglas Blackwood Surgeon · Army Civil War · 1865 JB John W. Boutwell Private · Army Civil War · 1865 JB John E. Buffington Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 CC Carlton N. Camp Private · Army Civil War · 1865 JC John Corcoran Private · Army Civil War · 1865 Stephen Potter Corliss First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 JC Josiah M. Curtis Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865

See all 66 recipients for April 2, 1865 →

More Civil War recipients from Illinois

EP Edward M. Pike First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1862 WM Wilbur F. Moore Private · Army Civil War · 1864 MH Milton Lorenzi Haney Regimental Chaplain · Army Civil War · 1864 Benona Sprague Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 Patrick Henry Pentzer Captain · Army Civil War · 1865 JV James David Vernay Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1863
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.