John Coughlin (1837 to May 20, 1912) was an American soldier who fought in the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...
. Coughlin received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. ...
, for his action at
Swifts Creek in Virginia on 9 May 1864. He was honored with the award on 31 August 1893.
Biography
Coughlin was born in
Williamstown, Vermont, in 1837. He was appointed as Lieutenant Colonel of the
10th New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry in September 1862, and mustered out with the regiment in June 1865. He received a brevet (honorary promotion) to brigadier general dated 9 April 1865 for "gallant conduct in the field".
He died on 27 May 1912, and his remains are interred at the
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery is one of two national cemeteries run by the United States Army. Nearly 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington, Virginia. There are about 30 funerals conducted on weekdays and 7 held on Sa ...
in
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
.
Burial Detail: Coughlin, John
– ANC Explorer
Medal of Honor citation
See also
* List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: A–F
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Coughlin, John
1837 births
1912 deaths
People of New Hampshire in the American Civil War
Union Army officers
United States Army Medal of Honor recipients
American Civil War recipients of the Medal of Honor
People from Williamstown, Vermont
People of Vermont in the American Civil War
Burials at Arlington National Cemetery