William McKinley’s Courage at Antietam and Medal of Honor

Nov 10 , 2025

William McKinley’s Courage at Antietam and Medal of Honor

William McKinley stood in the mud and muck of the battlefield, smoke choking the air, bullets screaming past his head. Around him, the carnage of the American Civil War unfolded—a savage symphony of death and defiance. Yet, amid the chaos, McKinley moved with purpose. When others faltered, he charged forward. Not for glory, but because duty demanded it.

The Soldier Forged in Ohio Soil

Born in Stark County, Ohio, William McKinley was no stranger to hard work or hardship. A farmer’s son, shaped by tough soil and tougher times. Raised steeped in Evangelical Protestant values, his sense of right and wrong was a furnace burning bright beneath his calm exterior. The faith he carried to war was not an abstraction. It was a lifeline when hope flickered dim.

His creed was simple: Serve with honor. Protect your brothers. Trust in God’s providence, even in hell. The wounds of his youth—economic struggle, the shadow of a nation divided—tempered a hard resolve.

“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

The Battle That Tested His Steel

William McKinley enlisted with the 23rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry. His defining moment came August 20, 1862, during the fierce Battle of Antietam—the bloodiest single day in American history.

The 23rd Ohio faced relentless Confederate fire near Sharpsburg, Maryland. Lines faltered. Command broke down. Amid the carnage, McKinley took initiative. Armed with a rifle and an indomitable spirit, he rallied scattered troops, leading a countercharge that held a crucial section of the line.

Under withering artillery and musket volleys, McKinley advanced through fields strewn with dying comrades. His movements were methodical, driven by a survival instinct sharpened in combat. When enemy fire felled his captain, McKinley seized the colors—the regiment’s flag.

Holding that standard high, exposed to enemy fire, was a beacon of courage. It stirred wavering men to stand firm. He became a symbol: a frontline pillar refusing to yield while destruction reigned.

Medal of Honor: Recognition Etched in Valor

For his gallantry at Antietam, McKinley received the Medal of Honor, awarded decades later in 1897. The citation states:

"For gallantry in action on August 20, 1862, near Sharpsburg, Maryland, while serving with Company D, 23rd Ohio Infantry. McKinley seized the colors after his captain was shot and led the regiment forward, maintaining the line under heavy fire."¹

Officers and men alike remembered him not for reckless bravery, but steady, purposeful leadership.

Brigadier General Jacob D. Cox remarked in memoirs:

“McKinley’s courage was a lodestone for those around him, inspiring endurance in the face of chaos and death.”²

Legacy in Blood and Faith

William McKinley’s soldier’s heart beat beyond the battlefield. He rose, decades later, to serve as President of the United States—a post war tested men rarely reach. His experience of sacrifice and survival anchored his leadership through tumultuous times. But the scars he bore—visible and invisible—trace back to those hellish fields in Maryland.

His story teaches us the eternal cost of conflict: courage is not grand gestures, but quiet, relentless duty when the world caves in. Redemption walks hand in hand with sacrifice, like Paul’s thorn turned testament:

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses…” — 2 Corinthians 12:9

McKinley’s legacy is carved in grit and grace.

Some fight for fame. Others for family. McKinley fought for a nation breaking itself apart—and for all those who would inherit its promise.

His life is a blood-stained beacon for veterans and civilians alike: True leadership begins in sacrifice, and true faith is forged amid fire.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: Civil War (M-Z) 2. Jacob D. Cox, Historical Sketches of the Twenty-Third Ohio Regiment (1881)