Albert O'Connor

The Forgotten Hero Who Fought Hand to Hand for the Union Flag

Some heroes win battles. Others become legends because they refused to surrender when everything was against them. During the closing days of the American Civil War, Albert O'Connor displayed extraordinary courage that would earn him the Medal of Honor, the United States' highest award for military valor. Yet despite his remarkable heroism, his story remains one of the lesser-known chapters of the Union Army's history.

Born on 15 July 1844 in Canaan, Vermont, O'Connor grew up in a family that later settled in Wisconsin. Although many historical references long identified him as Canadian born, his own autobiographical account, military records, and later official documents confirm that he was born in Vermont, correcting a misconception repeated for generations. This careful historical verification restores an important part of his personal legacy.

When the Civil War erupted, O'Connor enlisted on 12 June 1861 in Company A, 7th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, one of the regiments that formed the famed Iron Brigade. Rising from Corporal to First Sergeant, he proved himself a dependable leader throughout some of the war's fiercest campaigns. He survived being wounded during the Battle of the Wilderness in 1864, returned to duty, reenlisted as a veteran, and was later brevetted Captain for gallantry before being mustered out on 3 July 1865.

O'Connor's defining moment came during the battles of Gravelly Run and Five Forks, Virginia, on 31 March and 1 April 1865. On the first day of fighting, he and a fellow soldier boldly recaptured a Union officer from a detachment of nine Confederate soldiers, capturing three of the enemy and scattering the remainder. The following day, he charged into fierce hand to hand combat over a Confederate battle flag, killing the opposing officer and briefly securing the colors before being overwhelmed by Confederate troops. These acts of exceptional bravery earned him the Medal of Honor, awarded on 27 February 1917, more than five decades after the battle in recognition of his extraordinary valor.

In addition to the Medal of Honor, O'Connor was entitled to the Civil War Campaign Medal, awarded retroactively to Union veterans who served during the conflict. Though his collection of decorations was modest compared with later generations of American soldiers, the distinction of receiving the nation's highest award for valor places him among the Civil War's most distinguished heroes.

After the war, O'Connor lived a quiet life far removed from the battlefields where he had earned lasting honor. He died on 3 April 1928 at the Washington State Soldiers' Home in Orting, Washington, and was laid to rest in the Washington Soldiers Home Cemetery, where a government-issued Medal of Honor headstone marks his grave.

Today, Albert O'Connor's legacy stands as a testament to the courage of the ordinary soldiers who preserved the Union. His verified Vermont birthplace, distinguished service with the Iron Brigade, and fearless actions at Five Forks ensure that his place in American military history rests not on legend, but on carefully documented acts of extraordinary heroism.