New Jersey Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines Awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for Civil War Service

BEECH, JOHN P - Sgt, Co B, 4th New Jersey Inf. Action: At Spotsylvania Courthouse, Va, 12 May 1864. Inducted: Trenton, N.J. DOB 1 May 1844, England. Issued: 5 Jun 1894. Citation: Voluntarily assisted in working the guns of a battery, all the members of which had been killed or wounded

BRANT, WILLIAM - Lt, Co B, 1st New Jersey Veteran Battalion. Action: At Petersburg, Va, 3 Apr 1865. Born: Elizabeth, N.J. Issued: 10 May 1865. Citation: Capture of battle flag of 46th North Carolina (CSA).

CLANCY, JAMES T. - Sgt, Co C, 1st New Jersey Cav. Action: At Vaughn Road, Va, 1 Oct 1864. Born: Albany, N.Y. Issued: 3 Jul 1865. Citation: Shot the Confederate Gen. Dunovant dead during a charge, thus confusing the enemy and greatly aiding in his repulse.

CONNER, RICHARD - Pvt, Co F, 6th New Jersey Inf. Action: At Bull Run, Va, 30 Aug 1862. Born: Philadelphia, Pa. Issued: 17 Sep 1897. Citation: The flag of his regiment having been abandoned during retreat, he voluntarily returned with a single companion under a heavy fire and secured and brought off the flag, his companion being killed.

CUMMINGS, AMOS J. - SgtMaj, 26th New Jersey Inf. Action: At Salem Heights, Va, 4 May 1863. Inducted: Irvington, N.J. DOB 15 May 1841, Conklin, N.Y. Date of issue. 28 March 1894. Citation: Rendered great assistance in the heat of the action in rescuing a part of the field batteries from an extremely dangerous and exposed position.

DAVIS, JOHN - Quarter Gunner, USN. DOB Cedarville, N.J. Accredited to: New Jersey. G.O.#11, 3 Apr 1863. Citation: Served on board the USS Valley City during action against rebel fort batteries and ships off Elizabeth City, N.C, on 10 Feb 1862. When a shell from the shore penetrated the side and passed through the magazine, exploding outside the screen on the berth deck, several powder division protecting bulkheads were torn to pieces and the forward part of the berth deck set on fire. Showing great presence of mind, Davis courageously covered a barrel of powder with his own body and prevented an explosion, while at the same time passing powder to provide the division on the upper deck while under fierce enemy fire.

DRAKE, JAMES M. - 2d Lt, Co D, 9th New Jersey Inf. Action: At Bermuda Hundred, Va, 6 May 1864. Inducted: Elizabeth, N.J. Born: Union County, N.J. Issued: 3 March 1873. Citation: Commanded the skirmish line in the advance and held his position all day and during the night.

ENGLISH, EDMUND - 1st Sgt, Co C, 2d New Jersey Inf. Action: At Wilderness, Va, 6 May 1864. Inducted: Newark, N.J. DOB 16 Nov 1841, Ireland. Issued: 13 Feb 1891. Citation: During a rout and while under orders to retreat seized the colors, rallied the men, and drove the enemy back.

FESQ, FRANK - Pvt, Co A, 40th New Jersey Inf. Action: At Petersburg, Va, 2 Apr 1865. Inducted: Newark, N.J. DOB 4 Apr 1840, Germany. Issued: 10 May 1865. Citation: Capture of flag of 18th North Carolina (CSA) within the enemy's works.

HOOPER, WILLIAM B. - Cpl, Co L, 1st New Jersey Cav. Action: At Chamberlains Creek, Va, 31 March 1865. Born: Willimantic, Conn. Issued: 3 Jul 1865. Citation: With the assistance of a comrade, headed off the advance of the enemy, shooting two of his color bearers; also posted himself between the enemy and the led horses of his own command, thus saving the herd from capture.

HOPKINS, CHARLES F. - Cpl, Co I, 1st New Jersey Inf. Action: At Gaines Mill, Va, 27 Jun 1862. Born: Warren County, N.J. Issued: 9 Jul 1892. Citation: Voluntarily carried a wounded comrade, under heavy fire, to a place of safety; though twice wounded in the act, he continued in action until again severely wounded.

KANE, THOMAS - Captain of the Hold, USN. DOB 1841 Jersey City, N.J. Accredited to: New Jersey. G.O.#84, 3 Oct 1867. Citation: On board the USS Nereus during the attack on Fort Fisher, on 15 Jan 1865. Kane, as captain of the hold, displayed outstanding skill and courage as his ship maintained its well-directed fire against fortifications on shore despite the enemy's return fire. When a rebel steamer was discovered in the river back of the fort, the Nereus, with forward rifle guns trained, drove the ship off at the third fire. The gallant ship's participation contributed to the planting of the flag on one of the strongest fortifications possessed by the rebels.

LOCKE, LEWIS - Pvt, Co A, 1st New Jersey Cav. Action: At Paines Crossroads, Va, 5 Apr 1865. Inducted: Jersey City, N.J. Born: Clintonville, N.Y. Issued: 3 May 1865. Citation: Capture of a Confederate flag.

MAGEE, WILLIAM - Drummer, Co C, 33d New Jersey Inf. Action: At Murfreesboro, Tenn, 5 Dec 1864. Born: Newark, N.J. Issued: 7 Feb 1866. Citation: In a charge, was among the first to reach a battery of the enemy and, with one or two others, mounted the artillery horses and took two guns into the Union lines.

OSS, ALBERT - Pvt, Co B, 11th New Jersey Inf. Action: At Chancellorsville, Va, 3 May 1863. Inducted: Newark, N.J. Born: Belgium. Issued: 6 May 1892. Citation: Remained in the rifle pits after the others had retreated, firing constantly, and contesting the ground step by step.

PORTER, WILLIAM - Sgt, Co H, 1st New Jersey Cav. Action: At Sailors Creek, Va, 6 Apr 1865. Born: New York, N.Y. Issued: 3 Jul 1865. Citation: Among the first to check the enemy's countercharge.

SAGELHURST, JOHN C. - Sgt, Co B, 1st New Jersey Cav. Action: At Hatchers Run, Va, 6 Feb 1865. Inducted: Buffalo, N.Y. Born: Buffalo, N.Y. Issued: 3 Jan 1906. Citation: Under a heavy fire from the enemy carried off the field a commissioned officer who was severely wounded and also led a charge on the enemy's rifle pits.

SEWELL, WILLIAM J. - Col, 5th New Jersey Inf. Action: At Chancellorsville, Va, 3 May 1863. Inducted: Camden, N.J. DOB 6 Dec 1835, Ireland. Issued: 25 March 1896. Citation: Assuming command of a brigade, he rallied around his colors a mass of men from other regiments and fought these troops with great brilliancy through several hours of desperate conflict, remaining in command though wounded and inspiring them by his presence and the gallantry of his personal example.

SHIVERS, JOHN - Pvt, USMC. DOB 1830 Canada. Accredited to: New Jersey. G.O. No. 59, 22 Jun 1865. Citation: On board the USS Minnesota, in the assault on Fort Fisher, 15 Jan 1865. Landing on the beach with the assaulting party from his ship, Pvt. Shivers advanced to the top of the sandhill and partly through the breach in the palisades despite enemy fire which killed or wounded many officers and men. When more than two-thirds of the men became seized with panic and retreated on the run, he remained with the party until dark when it came safely away, bringing its wounded, its arms and its colors.

SOUTHARD, DAVID - Sgt, Co C, 1st New Jersey Cav. Place and date. At Sailors Creek, Va, 6 Apr 1865. Born: Ocean County, N.J. Issued: 3 Jul 1865. Citation: Capture of flag; and was the first man over the works in the charge.

STEWART, GEORGE W. - 1st Sgt, Co E, 1st New Jersey Cav. Action: At Paines Crossroads, Va, 5 Apr 1865. Born: Salem, N.J. Issued: 3 May 1865. Citation: Capture of flag.

STRAHAN, ROBERT - Captain of the Top, USN. Born: New Jersey. G.O.#45, 31 Dec 1864. Accredited to: New Jersey. Citation: Served as captain of the top on board the USS Kearsarge when she destroyed the Alabama off Cherbourg, France, 19 Jun 1864. Acting as captain of the No. 1 gun, Strahan carried out his duties in the face of heavy enemy fire and exhibited marked coolness and good conduct throughout the engagement. Strahan was highly recommended by his division officer for his gallantry and meritorious achievements.

STREILE, CHRISTIAN - Pvt, Co I, 1st New Jersey Cav. Action: At Paines Crossroads, Va, 5 Apr 1865. Inducted: Jersey City, N.J. Born: Germany. Issued: 3 May 1865. Citation: Capture of flag.

TAYLOR, FORRESTER L. - Captain, Co H, 23d New Jersey Inf. Action: At Chancellorsville. Va, 3 May 1863. Born: Philadelphia, Pa. Issued: 2 Nov 1896. Citation: At great risk voluntarily saved the lives of and brought from the battlefield 2 wounded comrades.

TITUS, CHARLES - Sgt, Co H, 1st New Jersey Cav. Action: At Sailors Creek, Va, 6 Apr 1865. Inducted: New Brunswick, N.J. Born: Millstone, N.J. Issued: 3 Jul 1865. Citation: Was among the first to check the enemy's countercharge.

TOFFEY, JOHN J. - 1Lt, Co G, 33d New Jersey Inf. Place and date. At Chattanooga, Tenn, 23 Nov 1863. Inducted: Hudson, N.J. Born: Duchess, N.Y. Issued: 10 Sep 1897. Citation: Although excused from duty on account of sickness, went to the front in command of a storming party and with conspicuous gallantry participated in the assault of Missionary Ridge; was here wounded and permanently disabled.

TOMLIN, ANDREW J. - Cpl, USMC. DOB 1844, Goshen, N.J. Accredited to: New Jersey. G.O.#59, 22 Jun 1865. Citation: As corporal of the guard on board the USS Wabash during the assault on Fort Fisher, on 15 Jan 1865. As 1 of 200 marines assembled to hold a line of entrenchments in the rear of the fort which the enemy threatened to attack in force following a retreat in panic by more than two-thirds of the assaulting ground forces, Cpl. Tomlin took position in line and remained until morning when relief troops arrived from the fort. When one of his comrades was struck down by enemy fire, he unhesitatingly advanced under a withering fire of musketry into an open plain close to the fort and assisted the wounded man to a place of safety.

TOMPKINS, AARON B. - Sgt, Co G, 1st New Jersey Cav. Action: At Sailors Creek, Va, 5 Apr 1865. Born: Orange, Essex County, N.J. Issued: 3 Jul 1865. Citation: Charged into the enemy's ranks and captured a battle flag, having a horse shot under him and his cheeks and shoulders cut with a saber.

WEEKS, CHARLES H. - Captain of the Foretop, USN. DOB 1837, New Jersey. Accredited to: New Jersey. G.O.#84, 3 Oct 1867. Citation: Served as captain of the foretop on board the USS Montauk, 21 Sep 1864. During the night of 21 Sept, when fire was discovered in the magazine lightroom of that vessel, causing a panic and demoralizing the crew, Weeks, notwithstanding the cry of "fire in the magazine," displayed great presence of mind and rendered valuable service in extinguishing the flames which were imperiling the ship and the men on board.

WHITFIELD, DANIEL - Quartermaster, USN. DOB 1821, Newark, N.J. Accredited to: New Jersey. G.O.#45, 31 Dec 1864. Citation: Serving as quartermaster on board the USS Lackawanna during successful attacks against Fort Morgan, rebel gunboats and the rebel ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay, 5 Aug 1864. Acting as captain of a gun, Whitfield coolly stood by his gun, holding on to the lock string and waited alongside the rebel ram Tennessee until able to fire the shot that entered her port. Whitfield courageously carried out his duties during the prolonged action which resulted in the capture of the prize ram Tennessee and in the damaging and destruction of Fort Morgan.

WILSON, CHARLES E. - Sgt, Co A, 1st New Jersey Cav. Action: At Sailors Creek, Va, 6 Apr 1865. Born: Bucks County, Pa. Issued: 3 Jul 1865. Citation: Charged the enemy's works, colors in hand, and had 2 horses shot from under him.

WILSON, JOHN - Sgt, Co L, 1st New Jersey Cav. Action: At Chamberlains Creek, Va, 31 March 1865. Inducted: Jersey City, N.J. Born: England. Issued: 3 Jul 1865. Citation: With the assistance of one comrade, headed off the advance of the enemy, shooting 2 of his color bearers; also posted himself between the enemy and the lead horses of his own command, thus saving the herd from capture.

YOUNG, EDWARD B. - Coxswain, USN. DOB 1835, Bergan, N.J. Accredited to: New Jersey. G.O.#59, 22 Jun 1865. Citation: On board the USS Calena during the attack on enemy forts at Mobile Bay, 5 Aug 1864. Securely lashed to the side of the Oneida which had suffered the loss of her steering apparatus and an explosion of her boiler from enemy fire, the Calena aided the stricken vessel past the enemy forts to safety. Despite heavy damage to his ship from raking enemy fire, Young performed his duties with skill and courage throughout the action.