PATRICK MONAGHAN It is a curious coincidence tht on the same day that Scotch-born Robert A. Reid was capturing a Confederate flag at Petersburg, on June 17, 1864 a fellow Schuylkill COuntian, Ireland-born Patrick H. Monaghan was recapturing a Union flag on the same battlefield and he, too, would win a Congressional Medal of Honor.

Born in Mayo, Ireland, on November 19, 1843, Patrick H. Monaghan came to this country at an early age and when he became 17, enlisted in the Union forces as a member of Company F, 48th Regiment, the same regiment to which Comrade Reid belonged.

Mulholland says of Comrade Managhan's feat in recapturing colors of the 7th New York Heavy Artillery at Petersburg on June 17, 1864: "His regiment was in the 9th Corps, Army of the Potomac, and the early morning charge on the Confederate works. Seeing in the melee three Confederates making for the rear, one of them carrying a stand of colors, he promptly rushed at them and demanded their surrender. They threw up their hands and Sergeant Monaghan brought them in. When the flag was unfurled, it proved to be that of the 7th New York Heavy Artillery that had been captured the day before."

Monaghan first enlisted August 12, 1861, for three years and at the expiration of the enlistment re-joined for the duration of the war, serving to the end and being mustered out with his regiment July 17, 1865. He was wounded at Bull Run, the Wilderness and Petersburg, Mulholland writes, and received his medal from General George Meade at the headquarters of Army on December 16, 1864, at which Mulholland was present.

After the War, Monaghan became an active member of the National Guard of Pennsylvania and was captain, major and lieutenant colonel of his regiment.

He lived in Mineersville for a time, there marrying Bridget Derrick, also born in County Mayo, who had come her with her family. A school teacher from 1873 to 1916, he was well-known in county education cirles as the longtime superintendnet of GIrardville public schools. He died in 1917 at the age of 74 years.