Bernard McCarren (c. 1831 – June 20, 1870) was an American soldier who fought with the Union Army in the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

. McCarren received his country's highest award for bravery during combat, the

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, military decoration and is awarded to recognize American United States Army, soldiers, United States Navy, sailors, Un ...

, for actions taken on July 3, 1863 during the

Battle of Gettysburg The Battle of Gettysburg () was a three-day battle in the American Civil War, which was fought between the Union and Confederate armies between July 1 and July 3, 1863, in and around Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle, won by the Union, ...

Civil War service

At the onset of the Civil War, McCarren enlisted in Company H of the Irish-American three-months regiment, the 24th Pennsylvania under

Thomas Alfred Smyth Thomas Alfred Smyth (December 25, 1832 – April 9, 1865) was a brigadier general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was the last Union general killed in the war. In March 1867, he was nominated and confirmed a brevet major ...

. After this three month enlistment he joined the 1st Delaware Infantry. In September 1861, McCarren was promoted to the rank of corporal. He fought in multiple battles including the

Battle of Chantilly The Battle of Chantilly (or Ox Hill, the Confederate name) took place on September 1, 1862, in Fairfax County, Virginia, as the concluding battle of the Northern Virginia Campaign of the American Civil War. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's corps ...

Battle of Fredericksburg The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought December 11–15, 1862, in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia, in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. The combat between the Union Army, Union Army of the Potomac commanded by Major general ( ...

, and most notably, the

where McCarren earned the Medal of Honor. On the third day of this battle, McCarren captured the colors of the 13th Alabama in a counterattack against

Pickett's Charge Pickett's Charge was an infantry assault on July 3, 1863, during the Battle of Gettysburg. It was ordered by Confederate General Robert E. Lee as part of his plan to break through Union lines and achieve a decisive victory in the North. T ...

Medal of Honor citation

Personal life

McCarren married Mary Ann Traynor in 1855 with whom he had two children. He died in 1870 of dysentery. A division of the

Ancient Order of Hibernians The Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH; ) is an Irish Catholic fraternal organization. Members must be male, Catholic, and either born in Ireland or of Irish descent. Its largest membership is in the United States, where it was founded in New Yo ...

located in

Newark, Delaware Newark ( )Not as in Newark, New Jersey. is a city in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. It is located west-southwest of Wilmington. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 31,454. The University of Delaware is ...

is named after McCarren.

References

External links

Bernard McCarren on Find A Grave
{{DEFAULTSORT:McCarren, Bernard 1830s births 1870 deaths American Civil War recipients of the Medal of Honor People from New Castle County, Delaware People of Delaware in the American Civil War United States Army Medal of Honor recipients