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Landsman · U.S. Navy

Gurdon H. Barter

Landsman Gurdon H. Barter, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on January 15, 1865 at Fort Fisher, North Carolina during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War January 15, 1865

Landsman Gurdon H. Barter, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on January 15, 1865 at Fort Fisher, North Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Minnesota. Barter was about 22 years old.

30 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.

Barter was born in 1843 in Williamsburg, Kings County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York, New York. Barter died on April 22, 1900 in Viola, Idaho, at the age of about 57. He is buried at Viola Cemetery in Viola, Idaho. His medal is held by Idaho Military Historical Society, Boise, ID.

Barter is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 678 credited to New York.

Official Medal of Honor citation

On board the U.S.S.Minnesota in action during the assault on Fort Fisher, 15 January 1865. Landing on the beach with the assaulting party from his ship, Landsman Barter advanced to the top of the sandhill and partly through the breach in the palisades despite enemy fire which killed and 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.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Williamsburg — map
  • Died: Viola — map
  • Buried: Viola Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. 1843
    Born in Williamsburg, Kings County, New York
  2. January 15, 1865
    Act of valor — Fort Fisher, North Carolina
    Age about 22. U.S.S. Minnesota
  3. April 22, 1900
    Died in Viola, Idaho
    Age about 57.
  4. Resting place
    Viola Cemetery
    Viola, Idaho

Biography

Gurdon H. Barter (c. 1843 – April 22, 1900) was a U.S. sailor stationed aboard the USS Minnesota during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Second Battle of Fort Fisher on January 15, 1865.

From the Wikipedia article “Gurdon H. Barter”, 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 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 GM George Merrill Private · Army Civil War · 1865

See all 31 recipients for January 15, 1865 →

More Civil War recipients from New York

William Laing Heermance Captain · Army Civil War · 1863 Robert Henry King Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1864 JR James S. Roantree Sergeant · Marine Corps Civil War · 1864 TB Thomas Bourne Seaman and Gun Captain · Navy Civil War · 1862 GL George Ladd Private · Army Civil War · 1865 JE James Robert Evans Private · Army Civil War · 1864
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.