Andrew J. Tomlin

Corporal Andrew J. Tomlin was a Marine in the U.S. Marine Corps who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on January 15, 1865 at Fort Fisher, North Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Wabash. Tomlin was 19 years old.

30 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. He later rose to the rank of Sergeant.

Tomlin was born on March 15, 1845 in Goshen, Cape May County, New Jersey. His Medal of Honor is credited to New Jersey. Tomlin died on November 1, 1905, at the age of 60. He is buried at Goshen Methodist Cemetery in Goshen, New Jersey. His medal is held by National Museum of the US Marine Corps, Quantico, VA.

Tomlin is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 93 credited to New Jersey.

Official Medal of Honor citation

As corporal of the guard on board the U.S.S. Wabash during the assault on Fort Fisher, 15 January 1865. As one 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.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

Born: Goshen — map
Died: New Jersey — map
Buried: Goshen Methodist Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New Jersey →

Timeline

March 15, 1845
Born in Goshen, Cape May County, New Jersey
January 15, 1865
Act of valor — Fort Fisher, North Carolina
Age 19. U.S.S. Wabash
November 1, 1905
Died
Age 60.
Resting place
Goshen Methodist Cemetery
Goshen, New Jersey

Biography

Andrew Jackson Tomlin (March 15, 1845 – November 1, 1906) was a United States Marine and a recipient of the American military's highest award – the Medal of Honor – for his actions during the Second Battle of Fort Fisher during the Civil War. Tomlin enlisted in the Marine Corps from Philadelphia in July 1863.

From the Wikipedia article “Andrew J. Tomlin”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on January 15, 1865

BA Bruce Anderson Private · Army Civil War · 1865 GB Gurdon H. Barter Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1865 DB David L. Bass Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 PB Philip Bazaar Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 AB Albert Burton Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865

Alaric B. Chapin Private · Army Civil War · 1865 TC Thomas Connor Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865

Newton Martin Curtis Brigadier General · Army Civil War · 1865

William Henry Freeman Private · Army Civil War · 1865 JG John Griffiths Captain of the Forecastle · Navy Civil War · 1865 TH Thomas Harcourt Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 TK Thomas Kane Captain of the Hold · Navy Civil War · 1865

See all 31 recipients for January 15, 1865 →

Same unit

ER Edward Ringold Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1862

More Civil War recipients from New Jersey

Frank E. Fesq Private · Army Civil War · 1865 JS John Christopher Sagelhurst Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 CH Charles F. Hopkins Corporal · Army Civil War · 1862 EE Edmund English First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 WB William Brant Jr. Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 AO Albert Oss Private · Army Civil War · 1863

Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.