William McKinley at Cold Harbor and His Medal of Honor

Nov 13 , 2025

William McKinley at Cold Harbor and His Medal of Honor

A man stands alone in a hail of musket fire, smoke choking the morning air. The line before him shatters, screams muted by thunder. Yet William McKinley moves forward. His bayonet thrust with a fury born from more than duty—from a heart that knows pain, faith, and resolve. This is not just a soldier on a battlefield. This is a man carved by war into legend.

The Faith Forged in Hard Ground

William McKinley was no stranger to hardship before the war’s fist slammed down. Born into a country divided, he carried a simple faith that anchored his soul through chaos. Raised with the Bible as his compass, McKinley’s unwavering belief in divine justice shaped his path.

He was a preacher’s son—a background that taught him discipline, honor, and the weight of sacrifice. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God”—this beat beneath his boots even as bullets flew. The war would test that faith, twisting it through carnage, but it never broke it.

The Battle That Defined Him: Cold Harbor, June 1864

At Cold Harbor, the pain was palpable, the ground soaked in crimson. McKinley, serving with the 17th Ohio Infantry, faced one of the war’s deadliest assaults. The Union troops were ordered to charge a well-fortified Confederate line—a line that tore through ranks with devastating effect.

Amidst this hell, McKinley did not falter. When his color bearer fell, McKinley grabbed the flag, knowing its weight was more than cloth—it was the symbol of hope, endurance, and unyielding courage.

The Medal of Honor citation notes:

“For gallantry in carrying the colors through the battle though wounded, rallying his comrades to press the attack.”[^1]

Wounded but refusing to quit, McKinley’s voice rose above the groans and gunfire. His courage pulled fractured units back into the fight. His stand held the line until ordered to withdraw, his actions credited with preventing a complete rout.

Honors Earned Through Blood and Faith

McKinley’s Medal of Honor came not just from a single act, but an embodiment of soldierly grit. Few Civil War actions were as searing as Cold Harbor’s storm. Commanders took note as stories spread of McKinley clutching the tattered colors, leading under fire, refusing to back down despite grievous wounds.

Union Brigadier General J. H. Hobart Ward reportedly stated,

“That man’s spirit was the steel that bent but never broke our lines. His example saved countless lives.”[^2]

From battlefield pain to quiet reflection, McKinley became a living testament to resilience. His award was a beacon carving a path through the wreckage of war toward healing and honor.

Legacy Etched in Valor and Redemption

William McKinley’s story is a blueprint for courage tested by fire and faith. The flag he bore was more than a symbol; it was a lifeline to purpose amid chaos. His scars—both seen and unseen—spoke of sacrifice beyond the battlefield.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). His life echoes this scripture with unshakeable clarity. McKinley’s valor is not relic dust; it’s the lifeblood of every soul who fights for something greater than self.

Veterans today carry that legacy forward, scarred but steadfast, wrestling with sacrifice and seeking redemption. Citizens owe more than memory—they owe understanding and reverence for battles fought in silence and in carnage.

The war blackened the land, but McKinley’s courage lit a flame that refuses to die.

[^1]: U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: Civil War (M-Z) [^2]: Ohio Historical Society, 17th Ohio Infantry Unit History