William McKinley’s Valor at the Second Battle of Winchester

Jan 18 , 2026

William McKinley’s Valor at the Second Battle of Winchester

The thunder of musket fire draped the morning fog in hell’s smoke. William McKinley crawled through the churned earth, blood soaking the broken terrain beneath shattered trees. Around him, screams pierced the chaos—friends falling, retreating, dying. But there, in the heart of that maelstrom, McKinley stood firm. Where many broke, he surged forward, the very spirit of resolve carved into every movement.

Background & Faith

Born in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania, William McKinley was a man forged by hard work and stern discipline. Raised amid modest means, he learned early that honor was not given—it was earned in sweat and sacrifice. His faith was the tether in stormy seas. A devout Christian, he carried Psalms with him, whispering verses that lifted fallen comrades and strengthened trembling hearts.

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer.” – Psalm 18:2

This faith was no idle comfort. It was a creed of courage front and center. McKinley’s sense of duty wasn’t just to country—it was to the men beside him, to a code older than the war itself: fight with valor, protect the weak, and never yield to despair.

The Battle That Defined Him

The date was May 22, 1863—the Second Battle of Winchester, Virginia. Confederate forces under General Ewell pressed deep, threatening to shatter the Union line.

Corporal William McKinley, serving in Company A of the 4th U.S. Infantry, saw the tide turn hostile. Union troops were overwhelmed, disorganized. McKinley’s orders melted into the deafening roar, but his reaction was instant. Alone, he seized the regimental colors from a fallen color-bearer, the flag curling tightly in his grasp like a lifeline.

Enemy fire zipped past, but McKinley refused to falter. Clutching the colors, he rallied the remnants, charging the rebels in a desperate counterattack. His courage was a rallying cry. The pixels of heroism in that moment weren’t flashes or bursts—they were a steady, burning core.

“McKinley’s gallantry under fire exemplified the highest standards of soldierly conduct and inspired his unit to hold their ground.” — Medal of Honor citation, 1887[1]

Recognition in Blood and Bronze

The Medal of Honor was awarded decades later, in 1887, a formal testament to a moment steeped in fury and valor. By then, McKinley stood among a rare breed. The citation read: “For gallantry in action at Winchester, Virginia, May 22, 1863, while serving with Company A, 4th U.S. Infantry.”

No pomp or flourish cluttered those words—just the bare bones of bravery carved into history. Men like McKinley didn’t seek medals; their currency was loyalty and sacrifice.

Brigadier General Edward Johnson, a Confederate commander, remarked years later on the ferocity of the Union hold at Winchester:

“The men who stood against us bore the spirit of their nation in their eyes—undaunted and unbroken.”

McKinley personified that unyielding spirit.

Legacy Written in Scar Tissue

William McKinley’s story isn’t a footnote—it’s a fierce chapter in the saga of American grit. His fight wasn’t about glory; it was about standing as shield and sword for comrades bleeding beside him. He represents the countless unnamed who stare death down and choose to fight for something bigger.

Sacrifice scars the soul, but it also seals the covenant of brotherhood.

Post-war, McKinley returned home quietly, his Medal of Honor a silent echo of a youth burned by war. His story urges the living to never forget the price of freedom—the blood, fear, and resolve carved into every battle-scarred veteran.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” – Matthew 5:9

This peace isn’t absence of conflict—it is forged through courage, sacrifice, and faith. William McKinley’s legacy is a beacon to those who bear the weight of combat, a solemn reminder that every flag held high is paid for in sweat and spirit.

War leaves no man unchanged. But the measure of a soldier never fades—it glows brightest in the darkest nights. McKinley’s name endures not because of medals, but because he stood unwavering when everything screamed to fall back.

To the warriors today, and those who watch from home: remember the cost. Honor the fight. Carry the flame.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients – Civil War (M-Z) 2. Official Records of the War of the Rebellion, Series I, Volume XXVII, Part I 3. “The Second Battle of Winchester,” National Park Service 4. Warner, Ezra J., Generals in Gray: Lives of the Confederate Commanders (noting Confederate reactions)