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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

First Sergeant · U.S. Army

Thomas Meagher

First Sergeant Thomas Meagher, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on September 29, 1864 at Chapin's Farm, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War September 29, 1864Born in Scotland

First Sergeant Thomas Meagher was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on September 29, 1864 at Chapin's Farm, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company G, 158th New York Infantry. Meagher was about 22 years old.

37 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 6, 1865. He later rose to the rank of Brevet First Lieutenant NY Volunteers.

Meagher was born in 1842 in Scotland — one of 41 recipients born in Scotland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Brooklyn, Kings County, New York. Meagher died on January 16, 1890 in Brooklyn, New York, at the age of about 48. He is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York. Records also list him as McMarr, Thomas W..

Meagher 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

Led a section of his men on the enemy's works, receiving a wound while scaling a parapet.

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

Timeline

  1. 1842
    Born in Scotland
  2. September 29, 1864
    Act of valor — Chapin's Farm, Virginia
    Age about 22. Company G, 158th New York Infantry
  3. April 6, 1865
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. January 16, 1890
    Died in Brooklyn, New York
    Age about 48.
  5. Resting place
    Holy Cross Cemetery
    Brooklyn, New York

Also honored for actions on September 29, 1864

LA Lester Archer Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 ✦ WB William Henry Barnes Private · Army Civil War · 1864 Powhatan Beaty First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 TB Thomas Belcher Private · Army Civil War · 1864 CB Charles Blucher Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 JB James Brady Private · Army Civil War · 1864 JB James H. Bronson First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 GB George A. Buchanan Private · Army Civil War · 1864 ✦ FB Frederick Clarence Buck Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 CC Cecil Clay Captain · Army Civil War · 1864 NE Nathan Huntley Edgerton First Lieutenant & Adjutant · Army Civil War · 1864 AF Augustin D. Flanagan Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864

See all 38 recipients for September 29, 1864 →

More Civil War recipients from New York

Samuel Nicholl Benjamin First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1861 DC Dayton P. Clarke Captain · Army Civil War · 1864 DW David Warren Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1864 WD Warren C. Dockum Private · Army Civil War · 1865 LC Louis G. Chaput Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1864 WH William W. Halstead Coxswain · Navy 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.