He was appointed Captain, 58th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry in February 1862; Major on September 30, 1864; Lieutenant Colonel, November 19, 1864; Colonel, November 20, 1864 and was breveted Colonel and Brigadier General, United States Army and mustered out of the volunteer serviceon January 24, 1866.

He was the President of the St. Lawrence Boom and Manufacturing Company, 1870-70; Chief Clerk and General Agent, United States Department of Justice from 1883 to 1903. Colonel, 2nd D.C. National Guard, 1887-97. President, Board of Reform School, Washington.

He earned the Medal of Honor while serving with the 58th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry 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.

He died in 1907 and was buried in Section 2 of Arlington National Cemetery.

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

CLAY, CECIL
COL BRE BRIG GEN 58 PA INF AND US VOLS
DATE OF DEATH: 09/23/1907
BURIED AT: SECTION 2 SITE 1012 SS
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

Webmaster: Michael Robert Patterson