Patrick H. Doody

Patrick H. Doody — Bio with citation

Patrick H. Doody was an Irish-born Union soldier and recipient of the United States Medal of Honor for gallantry during the American Civil War. He was born in Ireland on July 7, 1840, later immigrated to the United States, and served with Company E, 164th New York Infantry. Public records differ slightly on his displayed rank: Wikipedia lists him as First Sergeant, while the Congressional Medal of Honor Society gives his rank at the Medal of Honor action as Corporal and his highest rank as First Lieutenant. For a military database, I would treat Corporal as the rank at action and First Lieutenant as highest rank.

Doody enlisted in the 164th New York Infantry in August 1862 and served through the Civil War until he mustered out with his regiment in July 1865. His regiment fought in the Overland Campaign, and Doody’s Medal of Honor action occurred at Cold Harbor, Virginia, on June 7, 1864.

At Cold Harbor, Doody carried out a successful personal reconnaissance, then led skirmishers in a night attack against Confederate positions. His action helped clear the way for Union pioneers to construct defensive works under dangerous battlefield conditions. The official citation states that, after his reconnaissance, he “gallantly led the skirmishers in a night attack,” enabling the pioneers to put up works. He received the Medal of Honor on December 13, 1893.

Doody survived the war and lived for nearly six more decades. He died on March 5, 1924, at Woodside, New York, and was buried in Calvary Cemetery, New York.