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Seaman · U.S. Navy

Timothy O'Donoghue

Seaman Timothy O'Donoghue, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on May 5, 1864 at Red River, Louisiana during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War May 5, 1864

Seaman Timothy O'Donoghue was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 5, 1864 at Red River, Louisiana during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Signal. O'Donoghue was about 23 years old.

13 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.

O'Donoghue was born in 1841 in Rochester, Monroe County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York. O'Donoghue died on July 20, 1877 in Rochester (Monroe County), New York, at the age of about 36. He is buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Rochester, New York.

O'Donoghue 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

Served as boatswain's mate on board the U.S.S. Signal, Red River, 5 May 1864. Proceeding up the Red River, the U.S.S. Signal engaged a large force of enemy field batteries and sharpshooters, returning the fire until the ship was totally disabled, at which time the white flag was raised. Serving as gun captain, wounded early in the battle, O'Donoghue bravely stood by his gun in the face of enemy fire until ordered to withdraw.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Rochester — map
  • Died: Rochester — map
  • Buried: Holy Sepulchre Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. 1841
    Born in Rochester, Monroe County, New York
  2. May 5, 1864
    Act of valor — Red River, Louisiana
    Age about 23. U.S.S. Signal
  3. July 20, 1877
    Died in Rochester (Monroe County), New York
    Age about 36.
  4. Resting place
    Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
    Rochester, New York

Biography

Timothy O'Donoghue (1844 - July 20, 1877) was a Union Navy sailor in the American Civil War and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the Red River Campaign. Born in 1844 in Rochester, New York, O'Donoghue joined the Navy in August 1863. He served as a seaman and boatswain's mate on the USS Signal. On May 5, 1864, during an engagement with Confederates on the Red River in Louisiana, Signal took heavy fire and was disabled. Although wounded early in the battle, O'Donoghue remained at his post as gun captain until being ordered to withdraw.

From the Wikipedia article “Timothy O'Donoghue”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on May 5, 1864

CA Charles Asten Quarter Gunner · Navy Civil War · 1864 Abram J. Buckles Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 GB George Butts Gunner's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1864 JE James Robert Evans Private · Army Civil War · 1864 Peter Grace Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 JH John Hyland Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864 MM Michael McCormick Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1864 Charles E. Morse Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 JO John N. Opel Private · Army Civil War · 1864 John Henry Patterson First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864 Carlos H. Rich First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 Jacob E. Swap Private · Army Civil War · 1864

See all 14 recipients for May 5, 1864 →

More Civil War recipients from New York

JM John McGowan Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1862 JC James Edwin Cross Corporal · Army Civil War · 1861 Alonzo H. Cushing First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1863 ✦ MM Matthew McClelland First Class Fireman · Navy Civil War · 1863 FW Franklin L. Wilcox Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 TS Timothy Sullivan Coxswain · Navy Civil War
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.