Congressional Medal of Honor Society
Stories of Sacrifice
U.S. Civil War - U.S. Army
Samuel McConnell
Details
- Rank: Captain
- Conflict/Era: U.S. Civil War
- Unit/Command:
Company H,
119th Illinois Infantry - Military Service Branch: U.S. Army
- Medal of Honor Action Date: April 9, 1865
- Medal of Honor Action Place: Fort Blakely, Alabama, USA
Citation
While leading his company in an assault, Capt. McConnell braved an intense fire that mowed down his unit. Upon reaching the breastworks, he found that he had only one member of his company with him, Pvt. Wagner. He was so close to an enemy gun that the blast knocked him down a ditch. Getting up, he entered the gun pit, the gun crew fleeing before him. About 30 paces away he saw a Confederate flag bearer and guard which he captured with the last shot in his pistol.
Additional Details
- Accredited to: Bushnell, McDonough County, Illinois
- Awarded Posthumously: No
- Presentation Date & Details: July 12, 1865
Presented by Lieutenant J. J. Lyon, assistant inspector-general of the Sixteenth Army Corps, at parade.
- Born: June 1, 1830, Belmont County, OH, United States
- Died: March 26, 1915, Havelock, NE, United States
- Buried: Arborville Rural Cemetery (MH), Bradshaw, NE, United States