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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Seaman · U.S. Navy

James H. Lee

Seaman James H. Lee, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on June 19, 1864 off Cherbourg, France during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War June 19, 1864

Seaman James H. Lee was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on June 19, 1864 off Cherbourg, France during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Kearsarge. Lee was about 24 years old.

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

Lee was born in 1840 in New York. Lee died on August 9, 1877 in Oswego, New York, at the age of about 37. He is buried at The Rural Cemetery in Oswego, New York. His medal is held by American Numismatic Society, New York, NY.

Lee 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

Served as seaman on board the U.S.S. Kearsarge when she destroyed the Alabama off Cherbourg, France, 19 June 1864. Acting as sponger of the No. 1 gun, during this bitter engagement, Lee exhibited marked coolness and good conduct and was highly recommended for his gallantry under fire by the divisional officer.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Long Island — map
  • Died: Oswego — map
  • Buried: Rural Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. 1840
    Born in New York
  2. June 19, 1864
    Act of valor — off Cherbourg, France
    Age about 24. U.S.S. Kearsarge
  3. August 9, 1877
    Died in Oswego, New York
    Age about 37.
  4. Resting place
    The Rural Cemetery
    Oswego, New York

Biography

James H. Lee (1840 – August 9, 1877) was an American sailor who received the Medal of Honor for valor in action during the American Civil War.

From the Wikipedia article “James H. Lee”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on June 19, 1864

MA Michael Aheam Paymaster's Steward · Navy Civil War · 1864 John F. Bickford Captain of the Top · Navy Civil War · 1864 WB William S. Bond Boatswain · Navy Civil War · 1864 JH James Haley Captain of the Forecastle · Navy Civil War · 1864 MH Mark G. Ham Carpenter's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1864 GH George H. Harrison Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864 JH John Hayes Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1864 CM Charles Moore Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864 Joachim Pease Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864 TP Thomas Perry Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1864 WP William B. Poole Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1864 CR Charles A. Read Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1864

See all 17 recipients for June 19, 1864 →

Same unit

GB George Breeman Seaman · Navy Interim 1899–1910 · 1906 JD John Dempsey Seaman · Navy Interim 1871–1899 · 1875 IN Isador A. Nordstrom Chief Boatswain · Navy Interim 1899–1910 · 1906 RS Robert Augustus Sweeney Ordinary Seaman · Navy Interim 1871–1899 · 1881

More Civil War recipients from New York

WH William Hinnegan Second Class Fireman · Navy Civil War · 1864 EJ Eugene Philip Jacobson Sergeant Major · Army Civil War · 1863 GD George H. Dore Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 JJ John E. Jones Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1864 Robert Stoddart Robertson First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864 AD Andrew Davidson First Lieutenant · 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.