b. 12/06/1845 County Tyrone, Ireland. d. 30/04/1910 New York.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 01/07/1862 Malvern Hill, Virginia.
Peter F Rafferty MOH
Peter Rafferty was born June 12, 1845, in County Tyrone, Ireland. He moved to the United States as a teenager. and would later enlist in the Union Army on October 22, 1861, in New York City. He was attached to the 69th New York Infantry and was a member of the Irish Brigade.
Only July 1st, 1862 his regiment with the 88th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment were at Malvern Hill, Virginia. Their units were ordered to stop an advancing unit of Confederate troops. During the battle he was wounded in the thigh. After regrouping he stayed with his unit, the Irish Brigade. He was wounded a second time and suffered injuries to his foot and to the face by two musket balls. He was captured by the Confederate army but did not receive any medical care for five days. He was later released in a prisoner exchange.
He was discharged on January 5, 1863, due to his injuries which left him with a fractured lower jaw and clavicle. In 1864, he re-enlisted in the Sixth District of Columbia Volunteers and became a lieutenant.
MOH CITATION:
Having been wounded and directed to the rear, declined to go, but continued in action, receiving several additional wounds, which resulted in his capture by the enemy and his total disability for military service.
BURIAL LOCATION: CALVARY CEMETERY, WOODSIDE, NEW YORK.
FIRST CAVALRY, SECTION 10, PLOT 259, GRAVE 14/15.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
