DOB/DOD: July ?, 1840 * (Canada) – January 11, 1904 (New Haven, CT); 65 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried
ENLISTMENT: December 27, 1861, in New Haven, Connecticut
WOUNDED: Petersburg, Virginia, on March 29, 1865
DISCHARGE: May 11, 1865
* The exact Date of Birth is unknown.
OTHER: Listed in the 1900 census as living in the Springside Home, a widower, and born in July 1840 in Canada.
MEDAL OF HONOR CITATION
AWARDED FOR ACTIONS DURING: Civil War
BRANCH OF SERVICE: Army
UNIT: Company L, 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery
DATE OF ISSUE AND PRESENTATION: October 29, 1886 (21 years later)
AGE ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT: 24
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private James T. Murphy, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 25 March 1865, while serving with Company L, 1st Connecticut Artillery, in action at Petersburg, Virginia. A piece of artillery having been silenced by the enemy, Private Murphy voluntarily assisted in working the piece, conducting himself throughout the engagement in a gallant and fearless manner.
From “History of the First Connecticut Artillery; 1862-1865
I have received a letter from Capt. J. M. Deane, 29th Massachusetts Veteran Volunteers, wrote to call attention to the gallant conduct of Private James T. Murphy of Co. L, who volunteered to serve a light gun in Fort Haskell when its officer and all but two of the detachment were killed or wounded, and the gun was silenced. Private Murphy served at the piece with gallantry during the rest of the fight. The loss of the company was 2 enlisted men killed, 5 wounded, and 13 missing.
From the Morning Journal-Courier (New Haven, CT) January 15, 1904
James T. Murphy, the only Civil War soldier to be individually awarded a medal by Congress, died at the New Haven poorhouse at Springside Wednesday and has been saved from a pauper’s grave by Owen Colwell, of 439 Congress Avenue, who belonged to the same regiment with Murphy.
Murphy was frequently referred to as the bravest man in the war. He was a New Havener and joined Company I, Second Regiment, for its three months campaign. Later, he joined Company L, Heavy Artillery. Murphy was made a captain for his bravery at Fort Steadman. General Grant said that his bravery at Fort Steadman shortened the war by at least six months.
Mr. Colwell learned of Captain Murphy’s death and immediately made efforts to save his comrade from Potter’s Field. The funeral will be at Flynn’s undertaking establishment on Grand Avenue this afternoon.
From the Morning Journal-Courier (New Haven, CT) January 16, 1904
A military funeral with all honors befitting his rank was accorded the late Captain James Murphy, who was once said to have been the bravest man in the Civil War, was given him yesterday. The services were held at the Flynn undertaking establishment on Grand Avenue and were conducted by the Reverend Father Russell of St. Patrick’s Church. There was a large attendance of men connected with the military of this city who have been instrumental in raising sufficient funds to prevent the deceased from occupying the obscurity of a pauper’s grave. This would have been his fate as Murphy died penniless at Springside Home several days ago. At the funeral, a record of his noble and brave exploits was read, and they were interesting in the extreme.
The pallbearers were Robert Hollinger, James E. McGann, Al Hurley, D.J. O’Leary, Owen Colwell, and Lieutenant Duffy. The burial was in the soldiers’ lot in St. Bernard Cemetery.
Buried in St. Bernard’s Cemetery, 604 Ella Grasso Boulevard, New Haven, Connecticut; Civil War Section. Photos by Jeff DeWitt.
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