Gunner's Mate James Horton was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on September 21, 1864 off Port Royal, South Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Montauk. Horton was 24 years old.
2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. He later rose to the rank of Paymaster's Steward.
Horton was born on July 1, 1840 in England — one of 98 recipients born in England. His Medal of Honor is credited to Massachusetts. Horton died on April 15, 1894, at the age of 53. He is buried at Cypress Hills in Brooklyn, New York. Records also list him as Horton, Joseph.
Horton is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 265 credited to Massachusetts.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Served as gunner's mate on board the U.S.S. Montauk, 21 September 1864. During the night of 21 September 1864, when fire was discovered in the magazine lightroom of the vessel, causing a panic and demoralizing the crew, Horton rushed into the cabin, obtained the magazine keys, sprang into the lightroom and began passing out combustibles, including the box of signals in which the fire originated.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Timeline
- July 1, 1840Born in England
- September 21, 1864Act of valor — off Port Royal, South CarolinaAge 24. U.S.S. Montauk
- April 15, 1894DiedAge 53.
- Resting placeCypress HillsBrooklyn, New York