b. 04/03/1829 New York. d. 25/01/1901 Ashville, North Carolina.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 19/10/1864 Cedar Creek, Virginia.
He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the Battle of Cedar Creek fought near Middletown, Virginia on October 19, 1864. The battle was the decisive engagement of Major General Philip Sheridan’s Valley Campaigns of 1864 and was the largest battle fought in the Shenandoah Valley.
McGonnigle was commissioned as a Captain of Volunteers in March 1864, and served as an assistant quartermaster in the Army of the Shenandoah under General Philip Sheridan. He was transferred to the regular army Quartermaster Corps with the same rank in May 1865. He received a promotion to Major in February 1882, and retired from the Army in March 1893.
MOH CITATION:
While acting as chief quartermaster of Gen. Sheridan’s forces operating in the Shenandoah Valley, McGonnigle was severely wounded while voluntarily leading a brigade of infantry and was commended for the greatest gallantry by Gen. Sheridan.
BURIAL LOCATION: RIVERSIDE CEMETERY, ASHVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA.
SECTION G, LOT 21, GRAVE 3.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: BELIEVED TO BE FAMILY.