Publish Date 
Written by John Coughlin of Vermont
Appointed from New Hampshire, Lieutenant Colonel, 10th New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry, 5 september 1862
Brevet Colonel and Brigadier General of U. S. Volunteers, 9 April 1865 for gallant conduct in the field
Awarded the Medal of Honor 24 August 1893 for gallant and meritorious service during a sudden night attack at Swift's Creek, Virginia, 9 May 1864 upon Brnham's Brigade, resulting in much confusion. Without waiting for orders, he led his regiment forward and interposed a line of battle between the advancing enemy and saving the guns
Honorably mustered out of the vounteer service, 21 June 1865.
Born at Manchester, New Hampshire, in 1837 he earned the Medal of Honor in the Civil War while serving as Lieutenant Colonel, 10th New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry, at Swift's Creek, Virginia on May 9, 1864 for a night attack upon Burnham's Brigade. The Medal was actually awarded on August 24, 1893. He was breveted Brigadier General, United States Volunteers on April 9, 1865 for his war services.
He died on May 20, 1912 and was buried in Section 2 of Arlington National Cemetery.
COUGHLIN, JOHN
Rank and organization: Lieutenant Colonel, 10th New Hampshire Infantry. Place and date: At Swifts Creek, Virginia, 9 May 1864. Entered service at: Manchester, New Hampshire. Birth: Vermont. Date of issue: 31 August 1893.
Citation
During a sudden night attack upon Burnham's Brigade, resulting in much confusion, this officer, without waiting for orders, led his regiment forward and interposed a line of battle between the advancing enemy and Hunt's Battery, repulsing the attack and saving the guns.
Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.
Reviewed by: Michael Howard