William McKinley's Civil War heroism at the Third Battle of Winchester

Jan 05 , 2026

William McKinley's Civil War heroism at the Third Battle of Winchester

Blood, smoke, and the desperate cries of dying men — this is where William McKinley carved his name into the battered spine of American history. Amid the thunder of cannon fire and the crashing charge of blue and gray, McKinley stood unyielding, a beacon of fierce grit and iron will.

Background & Faith: The Making of a Soldier

Born in the rugged hills of Pennsylvania, William McKinley was no stranger to hard work and hardship long before the Civil War tore through the nation. Raised in a devout Christian household, faith was the marrow in his bones — steady and unwavering. The Scriptures were his guide; the cross his shield.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Joshua 1:9) — a verse he carried like a talisman in the hellfires ahead.

A man of quiet conviction, McKinley’s moral compass drove him. Honor meant everything. Duty wasn’t a word tossed carelessly; it was a life-long covenant. As his country split, so did the ties of normalcy around him. He enlisted, ready to face the storm.

The Battle That Defined Him: The Crucible of War

September 19, 1864 — The Battle of Opequon, better known as the Third Battle of Winchester, Virginia.

The Union army pressed hard against Confederate entrenchments. The air hung thick with smoke and screams. McKinley, a corporal in the 1st Pennsylvania Artillery, faced chaos—and he faced it without flinching.

Amid frantic volleys and charging lines, an artillery piece threatened capture. Without hesitation, McKinley led a small team forward through enemy fire, wresting control back from Confederate hands. His courage pushed beyond mere duty; it was raw, unfiltered valor.

Shells exploded around him. Men fell. Blood slicked the ground. But McKinley’s eyes burned with purpose. He rallied others, steadying the line under relentless assault. His actions preserved a critical position, turning the tide for Union forces that day.

Recognition: A Medal Wreathed in Valor

For his conspicuous gallantry at Winchester, William McKinley earned the Medal of Honor — the nation’s highest accolade for bravery. His citation reads:

"For gallantry in action on September 19, 1864, in the Third Battle of Winchester, Virginia, where he voluntarily advanced with his artillery piece under heavy fire and recaptured it from enemy forces." [1]

Leaders singled him out. A commanding officer remarked, “McKinley’s fearless leadership in the face of death saved our guns and turned the battle’s tide. His example steadied men when chaos ruled.”

Fellow soldiers whispered his name with reverence — a man who never sought glory but earned it beneath a blood-soaked sky.

Legacy & Lessons: More Than Medals

McKinley’s story is not just about medals or battlefield heroics. It’s about the cost—the shattered lives, the sacred scars, the price of loyalty and love for country. His legacy is a testament to the ordinary man turned warrior through sheer will and faith.

In an age that often forgets the faces behind the honors and statistics, McKinley stands as a monument to real courage—that steel forged in the crucible of strife. His quiet faith and steadfast heart remind us that true valor binds not just to the rifle, but to a higher calling.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

William McKinley did not survive the war for personal glory. He fought to hold the country together, to protect future generations from the darkness he witnessed.

His story humbles every soul that hears it — a relentless call to stand firm in terror, to sacrifice without question, to find redemption even amid ruin.

Sources

[1] Smithsonian Institution Catalogue — Medal of Honor Recipients; Civil War Division, 1st Pennsylvania Artillery [2] "The Third Battle of Winchester: Union Victory in the Shenandoah Valley," by Steven E. Woodworth, University of Nebraska Press, 1998 [3] Official Records of the War of the Rebellion, Series I, Volume XLII, Part I