John Shiel (Medal of Honor)

Sergeant John Shiel
Born	May 1828 Scotland
Died	11 June 1908 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Buried	Greenmount Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Allegiance	United States (Union)
Service / branch	Army
Years of service	1861-1865
Rank	Sergeant
Unit	Company E, 90th Pennsylvania Infantry
Battles / wars	Fredericksburg, Virginia
Awards	Medal of Honor

John Shiel (also known as John Shields and John Spiel, May 1828 - 11 June 1908) was a sergeant in the United States Army who was awarded the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the American Civil War. Shiel was awarded the medal on 21 January 1897 for actions performed at the Battle of Fredericksburg on 13 December 1862.[1][2][3]

Personal life

Shiel was born in May 1828 in Scotland. He married Ellen J. Barlow in 1874 and fathered one son, Arthur Winfield Shiel. Shiel died on 11 June 1908 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and was buried in Greenmount Cemetery in Philadelphia.[1]

Military service

Upon enlistment into the Army, Shiel was assigned to Company E of the 90th Pennsylvania Infantry. His unit was involved in the Battle of Fredericksburg in Virginia. Shiel earned his medal on 13 December 1862, the second day of the battle.[1][3]

Shiel's Medal of Honor citation reads:[3]

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Corporal John Shiel (Shields), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 13 December 1862, while serving with Company E, 90th Pennsylvania Infantry, in action at Fredericksburg, Virginia. Corporal Shiel carried a dangerously wounded comrade into the Union lines, thereby preventing his capture by the enemy.

— R. A. Alger, Secretary of War

References

1. "John Shiel (1828-1908) - Find A Grave Memorial". www.findagrave.com. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
2. "John Shiel | U.S. Civil War | U.S. Army | Medal of Honor Recipient". Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
3. "John Shiel (Shields) - Recipient -". valor.militarytimes.com. Retrieved 2021-05-04.