Years of service 1861 - 1862 Role Medal of Honor Battles/wars American Civil War | Awards Medal of Honor Name Denis Murphy Rank Sergeant | |
Born June 28, 1830
County Cork, Ireland ( 1830-06-28 ) Allegiance United States of America Died June 19, 1901, Wisconsin, United States Place of burial Allouez, Wisconsin, United States Unit 14th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment | ||
Service/branch United States Army Battles and wars American Civil War | ||
Denis John Francis Murphy (June 28, 1830 – June 19, 1901) was an American Civil War Medal of Honor recipient from Green Bay, Wisconsin.
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Biography
Murphy was born in County Cork, Ireland. His married Bridget McGinnis. He and his wife owned a family farm in Glenmore (De Pere), and moved into Green Bay after the war—his injuries making it no longer possible to continue farming. He died on June 19, 1901 in Green Bay. He is buried in the Murphy Family Plot (along with his wife, parents, several of his 11 children and other relatives at the Allouez Catholic Cemetery in nearby Allouez, Wisconsin. Many of Murphy's descendants still live in Brown County, Wisconsin, with many more in other parts of the United States.
Military career
Murphy served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He joined the Army from Green Bay, Wisconsin in September 1861 and was a member of the 14th Wisconsin Infantry, coming from a unit known as the De Pere Rifles. He was discharged due to disability in November 1862. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Second Battle of Corinth, where he continued carrying his regiment's colors despite being wounded three times. He was also wounded in the Battle of Shiloh and Battle of Iuka.
He was awarded a ceremonial saber with the inscription "for valor at the Battles of Shiloh and Corinth." This saber was kept and handed down by his descendants until it mysteriously disappeared into the hands of a thus-far anonymous collector in the mid-1990s.
The Denis J. Murphy Army Reserve in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin is named after him.
Medal of Honor citation
His award citation reads "Although wounded three times, carried the colors throughout the conflict."