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Ordinary Seaman · U.S. Navy

James K. l Duncan

Ordinary Seaman James K. l Duncan, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on March 2, 1864 near Harrisonburg, Louisiana during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War March 2, 1864

Ordinary Seaman James K. l Duncan, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on March 2, 1864 near Harrisonburg, Louisiana during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Fort Hindman. Duncan was 18 years old.

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

Duncan was born on July 6, 1845 in Frankfort Mineral Springs, Washington County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to Pennsylvania. Duncan died on March 27, 1913 in Wood, Wisconsin, at the age of 67. He is buried at Wood National Cemetery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Duncan is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Served on board the U.S.S. Fort Hindman during the engagement near Harrisonburg, La., 2 March 1864. Following a shellburst at one of the guns which started a fire at the cartridge tie, Duncan immediately seized the burning cartridge, took it from the gun, and threw it overboard, despite the immediate danger to himself. Carrying out his duties through the entire engagement, Duncan served courageously during this action in which the Fort Hindman was raked severely with shot and shell from the enemy guns.

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

Life beyond the battlefield

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Buried: Wood National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →

Timeline

  1. July 6, 1845
    Born in Frankfort Mineral Springs, Washington County, Pennsylvania
  2. March 2, 1864
    Act of valor — near Harrisonburg, Louisiana
    Age 18. U.S.S. Fort Hindman
  3. March 27, 1913
    Died in Wood, Wisconsin
    Age 67.
  4. Resting place
    Wood National Cemetery
    Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Biography

Ordinary Seaman James Kelly Leeper Duncan (July 6, 1845 – March 27, 1913) was an American sailor who fought in the American Civil War. Duncan received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action aboard the USS Fort Hindman on March 2, 1864. He was honored with the award on December 31, 1864.

From the Wikipedia article “James K. L. Duncan”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on March 2, 1864

WJ William P. Johnston Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1864 Hugh Molloy Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864

More Civil War recipients from Pennsylvania

GS George J. Shopp Private · Army Civil War · 1865 CB Charles Blucher Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 EM Edward S. Martin Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1864 JC Jacob Cart Private · Army Civil War · 1862 Thomas R. Kerr Captain · Army Civil War · 1864 CD Charles C. Davis Major · 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.