John O'Dea

John O'Dea (1839 – 1905) was a Union Army soldier during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the Siege of Vicksburg on May 22, 1863.

For the Newfoundland politician, see John R. O'Dea.
John O'Dea
O'Dea in 1880
Born1839
Ireland
Died1905 (aged 65–66)
Quincy, Illinois, United States
Place of burial
Sunset Cemetery, Quincy, Illinois
Allegiance
Service/branch
RankPrivate
Unit Company D, 8th Missouri Volunteer Infantry
Battles/wars
AwardsMedal of Honor

Union assault

On May 22, 1863, General Ulysses S. Grant ordered an assault on the Confederate heights at Vicksburg, Mississippi. The plan called for a storming party of volunteers to build a bridge across a moat and plant scaling ladders against the enemy embankment in advance of the main attack. The volunteers knew the odds were against survival and the mission was called, in nineteenth century vernacular, a "forlorn hope". Only single men were accepted as volunteers and even then, twice as many men as needed came forward and were turned away. The assault began in the early morning following a naval bombardment. The Union soldiers came under enemy fire immediately and were pinned down in the ditch they were to cross. Despite repeated attacks by the main Union body, the men of the forlorn hope were unable to retreat until nightfall. Of the 150 men in the storming party, nearly half were killed. Seventy-nine of the survivors were awarded the Medal of Honor.

Medal of Honor citation

For gallantry in the charge of the volunteer storming party on 22 May 1863.

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See also

References
  • "John O'Dea". Hall of Valor. Military Times. Retrieved October 13, 2010.


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