A Canadian Hero’s Stand: James Flannigan’s Medal of Honor Battle
Sixteen Against Many: The Extraordinary Valor of James Flannigan
Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes
Author: Military History Team
Key Takeaways
- James Flannigan, born in Canada in 1833, received the Medal of Honor for defending a Union wagon train against overwhelming Confederate forces
- As part of a 16-man detachment, he helped repel an attack by 125 Confederate cavalry at Nolensville, Tennessee in 1863
- His heroic actions saved vital supplies for the Union Army and resulted in the capture of Confederate soldiers and equipment
- Though born in Canada, he exemplified the dedication of immigrant soldiers who fought to preserve the Union
Table of Contents
Early Life and Background
James Flannigan was born in Montreal, Canada in 1833 to James and Catherine (Fury) Flanagan, Irish immigrants who had settled in British North America. After his birth, the family relocated to St. Lawrence County, New York, where they purchased an 80-acre dairy farm. Growing up with his siblings Bridget, John, Peter, Thomas, Catherine, Maria, Mary, and four others who died young, James received his education in Louisville’s country schools.
Seeking his fortune beyond the family farm, young James ventured west and established himself in the lumber business. This entrepreneurial spirit and willingness to forge his own path would later serve him well when faced with extraordinary circumstances during the Civil War.
Military Service
At age 28, Flannigan enlisted as a private in Company H of the 2nd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment at Fort Snelling on October 7, 1861. He was one of 1,176 Canadians who fought with Minnesota units during the Civil War, demonstrating the significant contribution of immigrant soldiers to the Union cause.
Serving under General Thomas in the Western Theater, Flannigan participated in numerous major engagements including the Battles of Mill Springs, Shiloh, Perryville, Mission Ridge, Chattanooga, and Chickamauga. His dedication and leadership abilities were recognized through promotions to corporal and later sergeant. He would also join in Sherman’s historic March to the Sea.
The Medal of Honor Action
On February 15, 1863, near Nolensville, Tennessee, Private Flannigan was part of a 16-man detachment tasked with protecting a wagon train gathering supplies for Union forces. What began as a routine foraging mission would become one of the most remarkable small-unit actions of the war.
The small Union force was suddenly confronted by 125 Confederate cavalry – nearly eight times their number. Rather than surrender, Flannigan and his comrades took defensive positions in and around a cabin near their wagons. Under the leadership of Sergeant Lovilo N. Holmes, they mounted a fierce defense that would later be celebrated throughout the brigade.
In the intense firefight that followed, the Union soldiers inflicted significant casualties on the attacking force. Their accurate fire killed four Confederate horses, wounded five enemy soldiers (three of whom were captured), and seized valuable equipment including seven saddles and three guns. Despite being vastly outnumbered, they successfully repulsed the attack and saved the vital supply train. Only two Union soldiers were slightly wounded in the engagement.
Legacy and Post-War Life
After the war, Flannigan returned to his roots in New York, settling back on his family’s dairy farm in Louisville. In September 1868, he married Kate Mallen of Waddington, NY, and together they raised four children: Frederick James, Agnes, Thomas, and John.
His valor at Nolensville was formally recognized on September 11, 1897, when he was awarded the Medal of Honor – the nation’s highest military decoration. The citation praised his “extraordinary heroism” in the defense of the wagon train. He remains the only Scott County, Minnesota resident to receive this prestigious award.
FAQ
Q: Why did it take so long for Flannigan to receive his Medal of Honor?
The award was presented in 1897, 34 years after the action, following efforts by Congressman Frederick C. Stevens to secure recognition for his fellow Minnesotans.
Q: How many men received the Medal of Honor for the Nolensville action?
Eight members of the 16-man detachment were eventually awarded the Medal of Honor for their extraordinary defense of the wagon train.
Q: Was Flannigan a U.S. citizen when he enlisted?
Born in Canada, Flannigan was one of many foreign-born soldiers who fought for the Union, demonstrating the significant contribution of immigrants to the Civil War effort.
Sources
- The Story of a Regiment: Being a Narrative of the Second Regiment, Minnesota Veteran Volunteer Infantry by Judson Wade Bishop (1890)
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies
- Minnesota Historical Society Records
- Find A Grave Memorial for James Flannigan
- Watertown Daily Times, “Flanagan: Louisville’s Medal of Honor Recipient” (June 5, 2014)
- Genealogical and Family History of Northern New York, Volume 3 (1910)
