George W. Healey
Born(1842-02-22)February 22, 1842
Dubuque, Iowa
DiedMay 9, 1913(1913-05-09) (aged 71)
Dubuque, Iowa
Place of burial
Linwood Cemetery
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service1861 - 1865
RankCorporal
UnitIowa 5th Iowa Volunteer Cavalry Regiment
Battles/warsCivil War
Awards Medal of Honor
Spouse(s)May A. Moser (1868-1908)
Susie M. Burr  (1908-1913)
George Washington Healey, 5th Iowa Volunteer Cavalry, c1865

George W. Healey (22 February 1842 - 9 May 1913) was a veteran of the American Civil War and a recipient of the Medal of Honor.

Biography

Healy was born in 1842 in Dubuque, Iowa. During his early life, he primarily worked on his family's farm and at local hardware dealership.[1] In 1861, upon the outbreak of the Civil War, Healely joined the army for reasons of patriotism. He claimed that anyone who did not take up arms against the South was a rebel.[2] In 1863, Healey was wounded in the head by a ball during a skirmish with Confederate forces in Tennessee. He survived the injury, but permanently lost his vision in his left eye.[1]

Battle of Brown's Mill

In July 1864, Healey, under the command of General Edward M. McCook, was led into Georgia in an attempt to disrupt rail supplies and traffic. On July 29, was separated from his unit during an encounter with Confederate forces. Healey discovered a lone Confederate soldier and succeeded in capturing him and his firearm. Healey, joined by Private Martin, another displaced Union soldier, captured four more Confederates who had been trailing them.[1]

McCook's invasion of Georgia was ultimately a failure, and many of his soldiers, including Healey, were captured. Healey was ultimately sent to Andersonville Prison.[1]

Citation

When nearly surrounded by the enemy, captured a Confederate soldier, and with the aid of a comrade who joined him later, captured 4 other Confederate soldiers, disarmed the 5 prisoners, and brought them all into the Union lines.[3]

Later life

Healely survived his capture and stay at Andersonville. In 1868, he married May Moser. He also worked at the Doolittle & Chamberlain business as a bookkeeper and salesmen. He later became a partner in the business and expanded it greatly. Healey died in 1913.[1]

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Corporal George W. Healey (Healy)". State Historical Society of Iowa. Archived from the original on 20 December 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  2. Johnson, Russell (2003). Warriors Into Workers: The Civil War and the Formation of Urban-industrial Society in a Northern City. Fordham University Press. p. 105.
  3. "Healey, George W." Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Retrieved 30 May 2014.

References

"George W. Healey". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. Retrieved 11 December 2014.


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