Irish Recipients of the Medal of Honor

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Terence Begley

Cold Harbor, Virginia

3rd June 1864

Terence (or Terrence) Begley was a Sergeant in Company D, 7th New York Heavy Artillery during the Civil War. At Cold Harbor, Virginia on 3rd June 1864, Begley shot a Confederate colour bearer and, rushed forward to seize the colours, although exposed to heavy fire.

Begley was born in Ireland. He did not live to receive his MOH as he was killed in action on 24th August 1864 at Reams Station, Virginia. His medal was issued posthumously on 1st December. Begley’s burial place is unknown.

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Patrick Doody

Cold Harbor, Virginia

7th June 1864

Stillin Cold Harbor where Corporal Patrick Doody of Company E, 164th New York Infantry won the Medal of Honor on 7th June 1864. Doody was born in Ireland on 7th July 1840.

His medal was awarded on 13th December 1893 for his courage in carrying out a “personal reconnaissance, following which he gallantly led the skirmishers in a night attack, charging the enemy, and thus enabling the pioneers to put up works.”

Patrick died in New York on 5th March 1924 and is buried in Calvary Cemetery, Woodside, Queens.

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1871 US Expedition in Korea

Everybody’s heard of the Korean War but one of America’s earliest, and virtually forgotten, foreign adventures was a short campaign in Korea in 1871.

In 1866 an American trade vessel, the General Sherman had attempted to sail into Korean territory. The Korean government at that time held to an isolationaist policy while the newly re-united states was flexing its muscles and perhaps eyeing up Europe’s imperial policies and liking what it saw. The Sherman ended up being sunk by the Koreans.

In 1871 a US diplomatic mission was sent to ascertain the fate of the General Sherman, negotiate a treaty to ensure the safety of American mariners and hopefully open up diplomatic and trade ties with the US. In line with the 19th century imperialistic strategy of gunboat diplomacy, the diplomatic mission included a small US Navy fleet which whiled away its time by beginning mapping and taking soundings off the Korean coast. Inevitably the Korean shore defences opened fire on the US Navy on 1st June 1871, sparking a month long campaign on the island of Ganghwa.

Fifteen Medals of Honor were issued for the Korean Campaign which were notable because they were the first to be issued for a foreign campaign.

Battle of Ganghwa

10th June 1871

The battle began on June 10th when the US Naval squadron arrived off Point Du Condé and began bombarding the fort there. I should point out that many of the place names were ones used by Europeans, including the French following their campaign in Korea in 1866 or names given at the time by the Americans.

The shore party was landed by boats and after some difficulty due to the terrain launched an attack on Fort Ch'o ji jin and Fort Du Condé which were taken without serious resistance. That ended the day’s fighting and the Americans camped for the night. Fort Ch'o ji jin was renamed Marine Redoubt in honour of the men who had captured it.

Patrick Grace

10th June 1871

Patrick Grace was a Chief Quartermaster on USS Benicia during the Korean Campaign. He was born in Ireland in 1832. His Medal of Honor was awarded for “Carrying out his duties with coolness”, and setting “ forth gallant and meritorious conduct throughout this action.”

Grace died on 24th February 1896 and is buried in Holyhood Cemetery, Brookline, Massachusetts. He didn’t liv to see his Medal of Honor which was issued almost twenty years after his death, on 4 December 1915.

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John Kennedy

Trevilian Station, Virginia

11th June 1864

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The Battle of Trevilian Station was part of Grant’s Overland Campaign of 1864, which so far was proving unsuccessful for the Union Army. We’ve seen several of the battles of the campaign over the last few months and all of them ended in stalemate with the Confederate Army resolutely refusing to be drawn into a major battle. The Union strategy was to destroy Lee’s field army and end the war but so far Lee wasn’t co-operating so Grant decided on a new tack. He planned to disengage his infantry from Cold Harbor and march south across the James River to take the rail hub at Petersburg, thus disrupting Lee’s supply lines and hopefully drawing him to battle. In order to disengage without the Confederates knowing it he had to draw away the Confederate Cavalry so he sent Gen Sheridan with two Cavalry Divisions west to Charlottesville on June 7th to destroy Confederate railway lines in the area. Two Confederate Cavalry divisions followed on the 9 th and the two forces clashed at Trevilian Station on the 11th in the largest all-Cavalry battle of the Civil War.

Included in the Union Cavalry forces was a brigade of Horse Artillery, including the 2nd U.S. Artillery. Among its ranks was Private John Kennedy, who was born in Cavan on May 14th 1834. The 2nd Artillery was assigned to the brigade commanded by George Custer, the luckless future commander at Little Bighorn. He managed to get his brigade surrounded at this battle too. During the fighting and withdrawal of Custer’s force, the gun manned by Kennedy was surrounded. Kennedy and another man fought off the Confederate cavalry until their ammunition was exhausted and they were captured.

Kennedy spent the rest of the war in Andersonville POW Camp. After the war he served in the regular army until 1891. His Medal of Honor was awarded on 19th August 1892 for his courage at Trevilian Station.

John Kennedy died on 28th September 1910 in Maryland. He is buried in Oakland Cemetery in Little Rock, Arkansas.

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Battle of Ganghwa

11th June 1871

In Korea the USMC is advancing north to take out more Korean coastal defences. Fort Tokchin, which the Americans renamed Fort Monocacy after one of their ships, was found deserted and was quickly occupied. The Marines and sailors then continued their advance over hilly country, cut by deep ravines to Fort Kwangsonchin, the main Korean Fort in the area which was soon renamed Fort McKee.

The attack on the Fort consisted of a charge by the Marines from behind a neighbouring hill some 150 yards from the fort, which they captured by weight of numbers. The Koreans seem to have been totally overwhelmed, losing 243 killed compared to three Americans. Korean equipment appears to have been totally obsolete with some men being armed with matchlock muskets.
US forces withdrew to their ships the following day, and the US delegation spent the next fortnight exchanging notes with Korean officials until giving up and withdrawing to China on 3rd July.

Three Irish-born Marines earned the Medal of Honor in the fighting at Kwangsonchin.

James Dougherty

Korea

11th June 1871

James Dougherty was born on November 16th 1839. His birthplace is recorded as Langhash, Ireland. He fought in the 1871 Korean Campaign as a Private in the US Marine Corps on board the USS Carondelet and was awarded a Medal of Honor for “presenting an example of constancy and devotion to the flag” by remaining on duty, though wounded on several occasions.

Dougherty’s medal was issued on 8th February 1872. He died on 25th November 1897 in Brooklyn and he is buried in Cypress Hills National Cemetery, New York.

Michael McNamara

Michael McNamara was born in Clare in 1839. He was a Private in the USMC in Korea. McNamara wrenched the match-lock from the hands of a Korean soldier and killed him during the fighting at Kwangsonchin fort.

His MOH was awarded on 8th February 1872. McNamara died on 25th April 1907 and he is buried in Holy Name Cemetery, Jersey City.

John Coleman

A Private in the US Marine Corps, he was born in Co. Cork on 9th October 1847. During hand to hand fighting Coleman saved the life of Chief Boatswain’s Mate Alexander McKenzie. His MOH was also issued on 8th February 1872.

Coleman died in New York on 25th November 1897.

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Joseph Killackey

China Relief Expedition

13th June 1900

Joseph Killackey was born 21st January 1879 in Co. Cork. He served in the US Navy during the Boxer Rebellion.

The Boxer Rebellion was the name given by western countries to a period of violence in China from the autumn of 1899 to September 1901. From the mid-19th century the European Imperialist powers had been attempting to extend trade inside China in the face of opposition from isolationist Chinese government. Several wars had been fought and Chinese territory annexed, notably Hong Kong by the British. By 1899, Chinese opposition had taken the form of the Yihetuan, a semi-religious movement dedicated to the expulsion of foreigners and the eradication of Christianity in China. Far from being a rebellion, the Yihetuan were widely supported by the Chinese government and members of the Royal Family. The name Boxers came from the Yihetuan’s practice of martial arts.

By June 1900 violence against Chinese Christians forced many to seek refuge in various western embassies in Peking. The Legation district, as it was called, was besieged by the Boxers and the Chinese Army. A combined expeditionary force was sent to relieve the besieged diplomats, which was achieved on August 14th. The expeditionary force spent a further year battling the Boxers.

Joseph Killackey was one of the American relief expedition, a Landsman in the US Navy. He was awarded a Medal of Honor on 19th July 1901 for “meritorious conduct” on 13th, 20th, 21st and 22nd June 1900. You'll see on his headstone that his MOH is credited to the Spanish-American War, presumably because the Naval forces committed to China came from the recently captured Philippines.

Killackey died in Philadelphia on 8th September 1946. He is buried in the Naval Asylum Plot of Mount Moriah Cemetery.

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John Fitzgerald

Cuzco, Cuba

14th June 1898

The Battle of Cuzco Wells was part of the Battle of Guantanamo Bay during the Spanish-American War and was a minor skirmish fought to secure the only water source in the area. There was a Spanish garrison of about 500 troops in the area, manning a blockhouse and a heliograph station. The US force sent to attack them consisted of two companies of Marines and 50 Cuban rebels. The Marines approach route was over rough terrain and in dreadful heat. The Americans suffered more from heat exhaustion that from the battle.

At 11 am the Spanish spotted the Marines Cuban scouts and opened fire. Both sides raced for the summit of a hill overlooking Cuzco, the Marines getting there first under cover of fire from their Colt-Browning machine guns. With fire support from an American gun boat, the blockhouse was captured and the Spanish troops driven off by 3.30 pm.

Private John Fitzgerald from Limerick was one of the Medal of Honor winners on the day, his medal being issued on 8th December 1910 “for heroism and gallantry in action”. Born on 17th March 1873, Fitzgerald joined the Marine Corps in 1894, serving until 1905 and achieving the rank of Gunnery Sergeant. He died in New York on 19th April 1948. He is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery, Brooklyn.

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Christopher Nugent

USS Fort Henry, Crystal River, Florida

15th June 1863

Continuing the mid-Summer Marine Corps theme, Sergeant Christopher Nugent, born in Cavan in 1840, won a Medal of Honor in Florida on 15th June 1863.

While in command of a reconnaissance party in a small boat on the Crystal River, his patrol was fired on from a Confederate position on the riverbank. Two men were killed and Nugent led an attack on the rebel position driving the enemy out of it and into a swamp. Reportedly there was a woman in the rebel party and the Marines, in a display of unMarine-like gallantry, held their fire so as not to harm her. Nugent was awarded the MOH on 16th April 1864.

Christopher Nugent joined the Marines in Massachusetts in 1858 and served until 1865. His was the third MOH awarded to a US Marine. He died in New York on 6th May 1898 and he is buried in St. Raymond’s Cemetery, the Bronx.

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John Brosnan

Petersburg, Virginia,

17th June 1864

A couple of days ago we saw Gen US Grant moving his army from Cold Harbor to Petersburg. An attempt to storm the Confederate defences between 9th and 14th June was unsuccessful and a renewed assault began on 15th.

Two Irishmen won Medals of Honor at Petersburg on June 17th although the story of one begins on the previous day with an evening attack by three corps on the Confederate lines. The attack was thrown back with heavy casualties and the Union troops dug in for the night as best they could. Company E of the 164th New York Infantry found itself in a gully where they remained all night under command of Sergeant John Brosnan
The following morning Brosnan heard cries for assistance coming from between the lines and he went out to help the wounded man. Under Confederate fire he found Cpl Michael Carroll of his own company mortally wounded. Lifting the dying man on his back, Brosnan made his way back to his unit, being himself wounded in the process. As a result of his injury, Brosnan’s right arm had to be amputated.

John Brosnan was born in Kerry on 1st July 1846. His medal was issued on 18th January 1894. Despite the loss of his arm he lived until 7th August 1921, dying in New York. He is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery, Brooklyn.

Patrick Monaghan

While John Brosnan was performing his act of heroism, in Burnsides IX Corps two brigades attacked the Confederate lines commanded by Gen. Robert Potter. One of the unites involeved was the 48th Pennsylvania Infantry, in whose ranks was 23 year old Cpl Patrick Monaghan.

Patrick was born in Mayo on 19th November 1840 and immigrated to the US with his family at the age of ten. He worked as a miner in Pennsylvania before joining the army at the outbreak of the Civil War, serving in Co. F.

During the attack on the Confederate lines, Monaghan captured a group of rebel soldiers who were retreating. In their possession was the colours of the 7th New York Heavy Artillery. It was for the re capture of this colour that Patrick was awarded the Medal of Honor the following December. Though wounded three times during the Civil War he survived and was discharged with the rank of Sergeant in 1865. He joined the Pennsylvania National Guard and rose to Lt-Col, working as a Superintendent of Schools until 1916. Monaghan died in Minerville, Pennsylvania on 22nd October 1917 and is buried in Saint Josephs Cemetery, Girardville.

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Rosebud River, Montana

17th June 1876

During the 1876 campaign against the Sioux Indians, made famous by Custer’s Last Stand, two Irishmen won Medals of Honor at the Battle of the Rosebud River, a week before Little Bighorn.

The US Army was advancing into Sioux territory in three columns in order to force the Indians off their traditional hunting grounds in which gold had been discovered. Gen George Crook was commanding the southern column, mixed infantry, cavalry, Indian and civilian scouts, wagon drivers and even journalists. On June 17th the column of about 1,400 men was marching north along the south fork of Rosebud Creek. The march had begun at 3 am and at 8.30 the column stopped for a rest, remaining in their order of march and deploying Indian scouts as cover. Firing began on the high ground to the north as Sioux and Cheyenne Indians, about 1,000 warriors strong, engaged the Shoshone and Crow scouts. The scouts made a fighting withdrawal back to the column as Crook deployed his men.

Map of the Battle of Rosebud River.

The battle lasted six hours and consisted of a series of Sioux charges, army counter-charges with neither side able to land a telling blow on the other. Crook ordered his troops to occupy the high ground north and south of the river, then deployed a dismounted skirmish line to advance north. This force made little headway due to flanking fire from the high ground to the north east (Crook’s Ridge). So Lt Anson Mills of the 3rd Cavalry was sent with six troops to clear the Indians from this area. He cleared two hills before being ordered to halt and was joined here by the skirmish line. The wagon train joined them on what would become Crook’s Ridge where the General established his HQ about 9.30 am.

The terrain on the battlefield today

While the army now occupied the high ground, the Sioux kept up their series of charges. Crook concluded that this as because their village was close by to the north so he sent Lt Mills with the cavalry from his HQ on the ridge north along the Rosebud, to scout for the Sioux camp, which was actually much further west on Ash Creek.

Meanwhile Crook’s 2i/c, Lt. Colonel William Royall had advanced with six companies of Cavalry along a ridge (now called Royall’s Ridge) across the valley of Kollmar Creek. Seeing him somewhat isolated from support Crazy Horse switched to focus of his attack on Royall’s force. Crook ordered Royall to withdraw but the Lt-Col sent only one company back to Crook. Under pressure from the Sioux, he then attempted a fighting withdrawal across the valley and was saved from disaster by the Indian scouts and Crook’s sending a company of infantry to lend support from a nearby hill. The Sioux were disinclined to attack the infantry who were armed with rifles as opposed to the cavalry carbines. With their longer range and accuracy they were able to inflict casualties at far longer range. By 11.30 am Royall was in a new defensive position but still unable to join Crook. The general therefore sent word to Mills two miles to the north to wheel south and attack the Sioux in the rear. Royall renewed his withdrawal across the Kollmar at 12.30. The arrival of Mills, combines with a Scout’s counter-attack on supporting fore from the infantry relieved the pressure on Royall’s men and allowed their withdrawal. The Sioux, un-nerved by Mill’s attack from the rear broke contact and withdrew from the field.

The battle ended in a Sioux victory, since Crook withdrew from the campaign for several weeks, with 10 dead and 21 wounded. The real problem was one of supply however, the mounted infantry and cavalry needing to cover distances that left their supply train far behind. Crook’s withdrawal possibly contributed to the Sioux and Cheyenne feeling confident enough to maintain the level of attack necessary to destroy Custer’s command just eight days later on the Little Bighorn.

Two Irish-born soldiers of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment were awarded Medals of Honor for their actions on the day.

Michael McGann

First Sergeant Company F, 3rd Cavalry. He was born in Ireland on 11th june 1845. His MOH was issued 9th August 1880 for “Gallantry in action”. McGann died in Los Angeles on 28th September 1918 and he is buried in Calvary Cemetery in the city.

Joseph Robinson

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First Sergeant, Company D, was born 12th October 1847 and died 18th December 1917. His medal was issued on 23rd January 1880, the Citation reading that Robinson, ”Discharged his duties while in charge of the skirmish line under fire with judgment and great coolness and brought up the lead horses at a critical moment”. Robinson is buried in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

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USS Kearsarge

Cherbourg, France

19th June 1864

The USS Kearsarge was engaged in operations off the coast of Europe during the Civil War. In June 1864 she was on the hunt for th CSS Alabama, a Confederate commerce raider that had claimed 65 US merchant ships sunk. On 14th June 1864, Kearsarge discovered the Alabama in Cherbourg harbour where she had gone for repairs. The Kearsarge took up station outside Cherbourg and waited for the Alabama to sail which she did on 19th.

As soon as both ships were in international waters, the Alabama opened fire, the Kearsarge waiting until the range was closed to 1,000 yards before firing her guns. The Kearsarge had a couple of advantages over the Confederate ship, being equiped with chainlink armour along her midships. In addition the Alabama’s powder and shot had degraded over time. Having exchanged shots for an hour, Alabama struck her colours and surrendered. Most of the crew were taken prisoner from the sinking ship, although some were rescued by a Royal Navy vessel.
Seventeen of the Kearsarge’s crew were awarded Medals of Honor for their day’s work.

Michael Ahern

Illegally recruited in Queenstown in November 1863, Michael Ahern was a Paymasters Steward aboard the USS Kearsarge. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for “Carrying out his duties courageously and exhibiting marked coolness and good conduct” He was highly recommended by his divisional officer for gallantry under enemy fire. His MOH was issued on December 31st 1864.

irishamericancivilwar.com/2012/01/03/the-uss-kearsarge-and-the-queenstown-affair-co-cork-1863/

William Smith

William Smith was born in 1838 and served as a Quartermaster in the US Navy. Aboard the Keasarge he was captain of an 11-inch pivot gun and received the Medal of Honor for carrying out his duties courageously and deserved special notice for the deliberate and cool manner in which he acted throughout the bitter engagement. Confederate officers said that his gun was more destructive and did more damage than any other gun of Kearsarge. Smith died on January 12th 1902 and is buried in Blossom Hill Cemetery, Concord, New Hampshire.

Some of the Kearsarge’s crew after the battle. William Smith is numbred 1 and James Haley number 5

James Haley

Born in Ireland in 1824, James Haley was a Captain of the Forecastle and commanded one of the Kearsarge’s guns. He exhibited marked coolness and good conduct and was highly commended by his division officer for his gallantry and meritorious achievement under enemy fire. His date of death and burial location are unknown.

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Martin Hunt

Peking, China

20th June 1900

Martin Hunt was born in Mayo on 14th September 1872 and joined the US Marine Corps in Boston in 1896. In1900 he was fighting in China during the Boxer Rebellion and earned the Medal of Honor for meritorious conduct during the period 20th June to 16th July 1900, his medal being issued on 19th July 1901. Hunt was discharged a month later in the Philippines. He died on 22nd July 1938.

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Samuel McAllister

Tientsin, China

20th June 1900

Samuel McAllister was born 23rd January 1869 in Belfast. During the Boxer Rebellion he was an Ordinary Seaman in the US Navy serving at Tientsin.

In 1900 Tientsin was a treaty port on the Hai River and home to about 700 westerners living in the foreign settlement just outside the ancient Chinese town. 2,400 troops from the US and other allied nations were sent to the settlement to defend it. The Boxer attack came on June 16th with the Chinese Army joining in the following day. The settlement was besieged until relieved in mid-July.

In action against the Chinese on 20th June 1900, McAllister crossed the Hai river in a small boat while under heavy enemy fire and assisted in destroying buildings occupied by the enemy. He was awarded the Medal of Honor on 22nd March 1902.

He died aboard the USS Wisconsin on 13th December 1903 and was buried at sea.

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James Drury

Weldon Railroad, Virginia

23rd June 1864

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Sergeant James Drury served in Company C, 4th Vermont Infantry during the Civil War and earned a Medal of Honor for his courage during the Battle of Weldon Railroad in Virginia on 23rd June 1864. On that day the 4th Vermont was on picket duty south of Petersburg along the railway line when they were attacked by a Confederate Brigade which split their thin line in two. Both halves of the rallied and fought it out, but hopelessly outnumbered they soon surrendered. About 50 men escaped by running back to their own lines through a wooded area. Among the fugitives was James Drury, carrying the Regimental Colours.

James was born in Limerick on 27th August 1837, immigrating aged 11 to Chester, Vermont. He joined the army in August 1861 and served through the war until July 1865. His Medal of Honor was awarded in 1893. After the war, Drury married and farmed in Iowa until he died on 25th December 1919.

www.weldonrailroad.com/medalofhonor.html

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Little Big Horn, Montana

25th June 1876

A week after the Rosebud Creek Battle, Gen. George Armstrong Custer and the 7th Cavalry were riding into the most famous of western battles, primarily because the General and just over half of his men were to die in it. A lucky 48% of the 7th Cavalry survived the battle and among them were two Irish soldiers serving in B Company.

Custer had twelve companies of cavalry which he divided into four groups for the attack on the Indian village at Little Bighorn. Custer himself commanded five Companies- C, E, F, I, and L, all of whose men died in the “Last Stand”. Companies A,G and M were under command of Major Marcus Reno, H, D, and K under Capt. Frederick Benteen and B Company, commanded by Capt. Thomas McDougall provided the escort to the Pack Train, carrying provisions and extra ammunition.

Reno's group was the first to engage the Sioux attacking along the bank of the Little Bighorn river from the southern end of the village. Nobody in Custer’s command had any idea of the of the size of the encampment they were attacking due to a failure to take time to do a reconnaissance. When Reno got his first view of the village he realised he could not hope to ride into it and survive. He deployed his men in a skirmish line and traded shots with the Indians for about twenty minutes before being forced back to the river by the weight of numbers attacking his men. After some time along the river bank he ordered his men to mount up and led them across the river up onto a hill top, reaching this position about 4.10 in the afternoon.

The Indians had not broken contact and Reno would have been in serious trouble but for the arrival of Benteen’s force, which had been left in reserve but had been summoned by Custer. Instead of pushing on to join his CO as ordered Benteen reinforced Reno . In short order B Company and the Pack Train also joined them. Some 340 men dug in atop what would become Reno Hill.

The Defence of Reno Hill

Capt Thomas Weir led Company D a mile north in an attempt to join Custer but about 5.30 pm saw in the distance what he took to be the end of Custer’s command. Following the end of Custer’s command, the Indians regrouped and launched an all out assault on the 340 odd men of Reno’s command. The attacks continued until nightfall and again for most of the next day. Only when Gen. Terry’s column drew near from the north did the Sioux and Cheyenne warriors withdraw.

Twenty Four medals of Honor were awarded after the Battle, two to Irish born soldiers

www.historynet.com/battle-of-little-bighorn

Thomas Callen

Callen or Callan was born July 12th 1853 in Co. Louth. He joined the army in March 1876 in Boston, making him one of the 20% of Custer’s men with seven months or less service at the battle. Callen’s MOH was awarded for volunteering and succeeding in obtaining water for the wounded of the command; also displayed conspicuously good conduct in assisting to drive away the Indians. Obtaining water entailed making his way down to the river from Reno Hill, running the gauntlet of Indian fire on the way. His medal was issued on 24th October 1896.

Thomas Callan died in New York on 5th May 1908 and is buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, East Orange, New Jersey.

Thomas Murray

Thomas Murray was a Sergeant in Company B, 7th Cavalry. His MOH citation: says that he “Brought up the pack train, and on the second day the rations, under a heavy fire from the enemy”

Murray was born in Monaghan in 1836. He first enlisted in the army on 25th May 1861 in Company K, 37th New York Infantry. During the battle of Williamsburg, on 4th May 1862, he was severely wounded in the left hand. He recuperated in New York City until he was mustered out on 22nd July 1863 as a Sergeant. He re-enlisted on 24th July 1863, in Company I, 13th New York Heavy Artillery, until the end of the Civil War, when he mustered out on 24th August 1865.

On 17th Aug 1866, he enlisted in Company B, 7th Cavalry. In 1871, he was promoted to Sergeant. He re-enlisted on 17th Aug 1881 as a farrier at Fort Yates, Dakota Territory, and was discharged on 11th June 1888, at Fort Meade, Dakota Territory, for disability (chronic bronchitis, and for an injury received on 10th Feb 1888). He died at the Soldiers Home, Washington DC, on 4th August 1888. He is buried in the US Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery