Capt. Menomen O'Donnell, Medal of Honor

Citation

Voluntarily joined the color guard in the assault on the enemy's works when he saw indications of wavering and caused the colors of his regiment to be planted on the parapet. Voluntarily placed himself in the ranks of an assaulting column (being then on staff duty) and rode with it Into the enemy's works, being the only mounted officer present, was twice wounded in battle.

http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/1009/o-donnell-menomen.php

He served as a Captain in the Union Army. He was awarded the Medal of Honor as a First Lieutenant in Company A, 11th Missouri Infantry for action on May 22, 1863 at''' Vicksburg, Mississippi''' and March 14, 1864 at Fort DeRussey, Louisiana. His citation reads "Voluntarily joined the color guard in the assault on the enemy's works when he saw indications of wavering and caused the colors of his regiment to be planted on the parapet. Voluntarily placed himself in the ranks of an assaulting column (being then on staff duty) and rode with it into the enemy's works, being the only mounted officer present; was twice wounded in battle."

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7881607

O'Donnell was just 18 when he stepped off the boat from Donegal, Ireland in 1843. For 3 years he worked at odd jobs, moving always west from New York to Lawrence Co, Il. He purchased land here and began a successful livestock trading business and slaughterhouse. In 1853 he was able to bring his brother Charles from Ireland to join him. Menomen was awarded the congressional Medal of Honor in the Civil War. The Economic Recession of 1873 forced his pork packing company into bankruptcy, but in 1879 after a move to Vincennes he opened a successful butcher shop and later became president of Knox Building and Loan Association. He died in 1911 but instead of being buried in the pretty little country cemetery for which he had donated land, his body was interred in Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Vincennes.

http://lawrencelore.blogspot.com/2010_10_01_archive.html