Cecil Clay was captain of Company K in the 58th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment in the Union Army

Union Army

The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...

 during the American Civil War

American Civil War

The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...

.

Early life

Cecil Clay was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...

. As an undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...

, he joined the fraternity St. Anthony Hall

St. Anthony Hall

St. Anthony Hall, also known as Saint Anthony Hall and The Order of St. Anthony, is a national college literary society also known as the Fraternity of Delta Psi at colleges in the United States of America. St...

.

Civil war

Was the captain of company K of the 58th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment.

Was promoted to Major on September 30, 1864.

Was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on November 19, 1864.

Was breveted to Colonel and Brigadier General, United States Army and mustered out of the volunteer service on January 24, 1866.

Earned the Medal of Honor

Medal of Honor

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...

 while serving with the 58th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment on September 29, 1864 at Fort Harrison , Virginia, where he was wounded in action, losing his right arm and severely wounded in the left arm while leading a charge. The medal was actually issued on April 19, 1892

Post Bellum

President of the St. Lawrence Boom and Manufacturing Company, 1870.
Chief Clerk and general Agent, United States Department of Justice from 1883- 1903.
Colonel, 2nd D.C. National Guard, 1887-1897.

President, Board of Reform School, Washington, D.C.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Captain, Company K, 58th Pennsylvania Infantry. Place and date: At Fort Harrison, Va., September 29, 1864. Entered service at:------. Birth: Philadelphia, Pa. Date of issue: April 19, 1892.

Citation:

Led his regiment in the charge, carrying the colors of another regiment, and when severely wounded in the right arm, incurring loss of same, he shifted the colors to the left hand, which also became disabled by a gunshot wound.

See also

• List of Medal of Honor recipients
• List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: A–F