US Army Brevet Major General, American Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. He was issued the award on March 10, 1893 for his actions as a colonel with the 114th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, US Army, on December 13, 1862 at the Battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia. He emigrated from Ireland with his father as a child. After studying law, he was admitted to the bar in 1859. When the American Civil War broke out in April 1861, he enlisted in the 18th Pennsylvania Infantry, and within three months was promoted to the rank of sergeant major. In August 1861 he was commissioned as a captain and raised a company from amongst European immigrants, called Collis' Independent Company "Zouaves d'Afrique" (African Zouaves). He saw action in the Shenandoah Valley and was promoted to the rank of colonel and recruited a regiment, which would become the 114th Pennsylvania Infantry and saw action at the Battle of Fredericksburg, for which he was later awarded the Medal of Honor. He was later wounded at the Battle of Chancellorsville in 1863 and contracted typhoid fever, but recovered. In December 1864 President Abraham Lincoln nominated him for brevet brigadier general, which was approved in February 1865. He was given command of an independent brigade and commanding this unit during the Siege of Petersburg. He was discharged in May 1865 and the following January, President Andrew Johnson nominated hum for appointment to the brevet grade of major general of volunteers to rank from March 1865 which was approved. Following the war, he returned to his law practice and became the Assistant City Solicitor in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He died at the age of 64. His Medal of Honor citation simply reads: "Gallantly led his regiment in battle at a critical moment."
US Army Brevet Major General, American Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. He was issued the award on March 10, 1893 for his actions as a colonel with the 114th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, US Army, on December 13, 1862 at the Battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia. He emigrated from Ireland with his father as a child. After studying law, he was admitted to the bar in 1859. When the American Civil War broke out in April 1861, he enlisted in the 18th Pennsylvania Infantry, and within three months was promoted to the rank of sergeant major. In August 1861 he was commissioned as a captain and raised a company from amongst European immigrants, called Collis' Independent Company "Zouaves d'Afrique" (African Zouaves). He saw action in the Shenandoah Valley and was promoted to the rank of colonel and recruited a regiment, which would become the 114th Pennsylvania Infantry and saw action at the Battle of Fredericksburg, for which he was later awarded the Medal of Honor. He was later wounded at the Battle of Chancellorsville in 1863 and contracted typhoid fever, but recovered. In December 1864 President Abraham Lincoln nominated him for brevet brigadier general, which was approved in February 1865. He was given command of an independent brigade and commanding this unit during the Siege of Petersburg. He was discharged in May 1865 and the following January, President Andrew Johnson nominated hum for appointment to the brevet grade of major general of volunteers to rank from March 1865 which was approved. Following the war, he returned to his law practice and became the Assistant City Solicitor in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He died at the age of 64. His Medal of Honor citation simply reads: "Gallantly led his regiment in battle at a critical moment."
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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