Soldier William McKinley and the 23rd Ohio's Valor at Resaca

Dec 20 , 2025

Soldier William McKinley and the 23rd Ohio's Valor at Resaca

William McKinley’s name is carved in the annals of valor—not the president, but a soldier etched by fire, blood, and the unyielding chaos of the American Civil War. He stood where the smoke choked lung and mind, steady as the din rose around him. His story is battered, raw, and carries the heavy weight of sacrifice few dare to shoulder.

Blood and Faith Forged in Ohio Soil

Born in Ohio, McKinley was a man grounded in modest roots and fierce faith. Raised in a community where scripture and hard work coexisted, he grew up believing courage was as much a spiritual command as a worldly necessity. His letters from camp reveal a steady invocation of Psalm 23—“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” This wasn’t poetry for the man; it was armor.

The call to fight was a call to preserve a fractured nation and a moral compass. Faith wasn’t a blanket; it was a battle cry.

The Battle That Defined Him: Resaca, Georgia, May 1864

The Union advance into Georgia was brutal, a grinding contest of wills. At the Battle of Resaca, McKinley served with the 23rd Ohio Infantry, part of the Army of the Cumberland under General Sherman. The fighting was merciless. Trees splintered by artillery, men screaming silence into the roar of muskets.

Amidst this hellscape, McKinley’s moment came. When a Confederate line shifted to break the Union’s hold, McKinley didn’t flinch. Command was tangled; officers fell. He grabbed the fallen standard—not once but twice—reclaiming the colors under withering fire.

Holding that flag was More than symbolism. It was a beacon calling his comrades forward. "I saw men falter," he later said, “but surrender never found me.” His refusal to yield, while exposed and outnumbered, galvanized his regiment. The colors waving kept the heart of the fight beating.

Medal of Honor: Valor Beyond Words

For this defiant courage, William McKinley was awarded the Medal of Honor. His citation states:

“For gallantry in action on May 14, 1864, at Resaca, Ga., in seizing the colors after several bearers had been shot down, and rallying the troops for a renewed advance.”[1]

His commanding officer wrote in a report that McKinley’s act “raised the spirits of our men in their darkest hour.”

The medal was not a clasp for pride—it was a scar won in flesh and spirit. He bore it humbly, knowing medals mean little when the ground is soaked in your brothers’ blood.

Legacy Written in Sacrifice

McKinley’s story is one of countless threads in that furious tapestry of war. But his courage under fire teaches an enduring lesson: True valor is not recklessness; it is deliberate devotion to something greater than oneself, even if the price is life itself. That line joining grit and grace is where veterans live their truth.

He returned home a changed man, bearing scars only the soul knows. Yet, his life beyond the battlefield remained entwined with faith and service, reminding us that combat shapes character but does not define destiny.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9

In remembering William McKinley, we honor not just a man or a medal, but the relentless spirit of those who step into the smoke, into the fire, knowing they may not walk away. Their fight is never for glory. It is for legacy—one that whispers through history: sacrifice is the seed from which peace must grow.

Sources

[1] Medal of Honor Recipients 1863-1963, U.S. Army Center of Military History [2] McPherson, James M., Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era (1988) [3] Ohio Civil War Records, 23rd Ohio Infantry Archives