Medal of Honor Recipient Timothy O'Connor
Quick answer: Who was Timothy O'Connor?
Timothy O'Connor was an Irish-born Chicago soldier who served in the 23rd Illinois Infantry and then the 1st U.S. Cavalry. On July 28, 1864, at Malvern, Virginia, during the First Battle of Deep Bottom, he captured the flag of the 18th North Carolina Infantry and received the Medal of Honor.
Not much is known about Timothy O'Connor, and as far as John can tell no photograph of him survives. But he played a part in the First Battle of Deep Bottom, near Malvern, Virginia, and thanks to some good researchers we know this much. His Medal of Honor citation, issued January 5, 1865, honors Private Timothy O'Connor of Company E, 1st U.S. Cavalry, "for extraordinary heroism on 28 July 1864," in action at Malvern, Virginia, "for capture of flag of the 18th North Carolina Infantry." He was born in County Kerry, Ireland, on August 15, 1842, and settled in Chicago. He enlisted in Company F of the 23rd Illinois Infantry, Mulligan's Irish Brigade, at Camp Douglas on March 15, 1862. In June 1862 the regiment went to Harpers Ferry to guard the railroad. On December 24, 1862, under a War Department order after Antietam that let volunteers join regular army regiments, the young sergeant enlisted as a private in Company E, 1st U.S. Cavalry, along with several others from his old regiment. He was discharged at the end of his enlistment on December 24, 1865, in New Orleans, and went home to Chicago, where he spent the rest of his life. He died there on March 26, 1915, at 72. There is a memorial headstone for him at Arlington National Cemetery, but he is buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Chicago.
Why it matters for leaders: Many Medal of Honor recipients left almost no record beyond their citation, and it takes patient work to give their stories back.
Q: What did O'Connor capture?
A: The flag of the 18th North Carolina Infantry, on July 28, 1864, at Malvern, Virginia.
Q: Where is Timothy O'Connor buried?
A: At Mount Olivet Cemetery in Chicago, with a memorial headstone at Arlington National Cemetery.
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By John Fenzel, founder and CEO of Heroes' Path Foundation