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Captain of the Forecastle · U.S. Navy

James Haley

Captain of the Forecastle James Haley, 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, 1864Born in Ireland

Captain of the Forecastle James Haley 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. Haley was about 40 years old.

16 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on July 27, 1865.

Haley was born in 1824 in County Cork, Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Ohio. Haley died on November 27, 1880 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the age of about 56. He is buried at Mount Moriah Cemetery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Records also list him as Healey, James.

Haley is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 256 credited to Ohio.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Served as captain of the forecastle on board the U.S.S. Kearsarge when she destroyed the Alabama off Cherbourg, France, 19 June 1864. Acting as captain of a gun during the bitter engagement, Haley exhibited marked coolness and good conduct and was highly commended by his division officer for his gallantry and meritorious achievement under enemy fire.

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

Timeline

  1. 1824
    Born in County Cork, Ireland
  2. June 19, 1864
    Act of valor — off Cherbourg, France
    Age about 40. U.S.S. Kearsarge
  3. July 27, 1865
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. November 27, 1880
    Died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    Age about 56.
  5. Resting place
    Mount Moriah Cemetery
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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 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 JL James H. Lee Seaman · 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 Ohio

John Wilson Sprague Colonel · Army Civil War · 1864 ✦ Andrew Davidson Assistant Surgeon · Army Civil War · 1863 DJ David Jones Private · Army Civil War · 1863 AW Alason P. Webber Musician · Army Civil War · 1864 SG Samuel Grimshaw Private · Army Civil War · 1864 JG John Gray Private · Army Civil War · 1862
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.