View source for James Allen (Medal of Honor)

{{Short description|Irish-born Union Army soldier (1843–1913)}}
{{other people|James Allen}}
{{One source|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox military person
|name= James Allen
|birth_date= {{Birth date|1843|5|5}}
|death_date= {{Death date and age|1913|8|31|1843|5|5}}
|birth_place= Ireland
|death_place= [[Saint Paul, Minnesota]], US
|placeofburial=
|placeofburial_label= Place of burial
|image= 
|caption= 
|nickname=
|allegiance= United States<br/>[[Union (American Civil War)|Union]]
|branch= [[United States Army]]<br/>[[Union Army]]
|serviceyears= 1861 - 1863
|rank= [[Corporal]]
|commands=
|unit= Company F, [[16th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment]]
|battles= [[American Civil War]]
|awards= [[Medal of Honor]]
|laterwork=
|relations=
}}
'''James Allen''' (May 5, 1843 – August 31, 1913) was an Irish-born [[Union Army]] soldier during the [[American Civil War]]. He earned the [[Medal of Honor]] for bravery at the [[Battle of South Mountain]] on September 14, 1862, during the [[Maryland Campaign]].

On April 24, 1861, shortly after the outbreak of the [[American Civil War]], James Allen enlisted in Company F of the 16th New York Infantry.

He earned the Medal of Honor for gallantry in action at the [[Battle of South Mountain]] on September 14, 1862.  During the battle, Allen singlehandedly captured 14 Confederate soldiers of the 16th Georgia Infantry, who had mistakenly believed they were opposed by a superior force.  Allen also captured a [[Flags of the Confederate States of America|Confederate flag]] in this action.

Allen was discharged along with the rest of the 16th New York in May 1863, but continued to serve the Union cause as a member of the railroad service.

Allen was awarded the Medal of Honor on September 11, 1890.

After the war, Allen lived in St. Paul, Minnesota and was a member of the Garfield Post of the [[Grand Army of the Republic]].

Allen died on August 31, 1913, and was laid to rest in the Oakland Cemetery in St. Paul.

==Medal of Honor citation==
*Rank and organization: Private, Company F, [[16th New York Infantry]].
*Place and date: At [[Battle of South Mountain|South Mountain]], [[Maryland]], September 14, 1862.
*Entered service at: [[Potsdam (town), New York|Potsdam, New York]]
*Born: May 6, 1843, [[Ireland]].
*Date of issue: September 11, 1890.

'''Citation:'''
:Single-handed and slightly wounded he accosted a squad of 14 Confederate soldiers bearing the colors of the [[16th Georgia Infantry]] (C.S.A.). By an imaginary ruse he secured their surrender and kept them at bay when the regimental commander discovered him and rode away for assistance.

==See also==
*[[List of Medal of Honor recipients]]
*[[List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: A–F]]
{{Portal|Biography|American Civil War}}

==References==
{{ACMH
  |url=http://history.army.mil/html/moh/civwaral.html
  |publisher= [[United States Army Center of Military History]]
  |title= Civil War Medal of Honor recipients (A-L)
  |accessdate=July 2, 2010}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Allen, James}}

[[Category:1843 births]]
[[Category:1913 deaths]]
[[Category:Irish emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:19th-century Irish people]]
[[Category:Irish soldiers in the United States Army]]
[[Category:Union army soldiers]]
[[Category:People of New York (state) in the American Civil War]]
[[Category:United States Army Medal of Honor recipients]]
[[Category:Irish-born Medal of Honor recipients]]
[[Category:American Civil War recipients of the Medal of Honor]]