DistantCousin.com

Rank and organization:   Captain, Company H, 119th Illinois Infantry.
Place and date:   At Fort Blakely, Ala., 9 April 1865.

Entered service at:   Bushnell, McDonough County, Ill.

Birth:   Belmont County, Ohio.

Date of issue:   8 June 1865.

Citation:   While leading his company in an assault, Capt. McConnell braved an intense fire that mowed down his unit. Upon reaching the breastworks he found that he had only one member of his company with him, Pvt. Wagner. He was so close to an enemy gun that the blast knocked him down a ditch. Getting up, he entered the gun pit, the guncrew fleeing before him. About 30 paces away he saw a Confederate flag bearer and guard which he captured with the last shot in his pistol.

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