John Nicholas Coyne Jr. | |
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Born | New York, New York | November 14, 1839
Died | March 4, 1907 Orange, New Jersey | (aged 67)
Buried | Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York |
Allegiance | United States of America |
Service/ | United States Army (Union Army) |
Rank | Lieutenant colonel |
Unit | 7th New York Militia Regiment (Company G: private) 70th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment (Company B: sergeant, Company F: first lieutenant: Company D: captain) |
Battles/wars | American Civil War:
|
Awards | Medal of Honor |
John Nicholas Coyne Jr. (November 14, 1839 to March 4, 1907) was a United States military officer who fought with the Union Army as a member of the 70th New York Infantry during the American Civil War. He received his nation's highest award for valor, the U.S. Medal of Honor,[1] for capturing an enemy flag while engaged in hand-to-hand combat during the Battle of Williamsburg in Virginia on May 5, 1862. That flag was "[t]he first Confederate flag captured on the battle-field" by the Union Army during the war, according to historian Thomas S. Townsend.[2][3][4] Coyne's medal was conferred on April 18, 1888.[5][6]