Michael Cotter Murphy

Held his regiment under fire for hours without ammunition.

For three hours at North Anna River, Michael Cotter Murphy kept his regiment on the field under enemy fire even though its ammunition was exhausted and it could not return a shot.

Born in Ireland, Murphy became an officer of the 170th New York Infantry and commanded the regiment as a lieutenant colonel. His conduct on May 24, 1864, during the North Anna fighting was later recognized with the Medal of Honor. He ultimately held the rank of colonel.

Medal of Honor Citation (condensed): Commanding the 170th New York Infantry, Murphy kept his regiment in position under enemy fire for three hours despite having no ammunition with which to reply.

After the war Murphy entered public service in New York City. An official NYPD history records that he became the city's first single Police Commissioner in 1901. He died in 1903 and was buried in Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, New York.