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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Sergeant · U.S. Marine Corps

James Martin

Sergeant James Martin, Marine Corps, received the Medal of Honor for actions on August 5, 1864 at Mobile Bay, Alabama during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War August 5, 1864Born in Ireland

Serving as a Marine in the U.S. Marine Corps, Sergeant James Martin received the Medal of Honor for his actions on August 5, 1864 at Mobile Bay, Alabama during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Richmond. Martin was about 38 years old.

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

Martin was born in 1826 in Derry, Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Pennsylvania. Martin died on October 29, 1895, at the age of about 69. He is buried at Mount Moriah Cemetery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Martin 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

As captain of a gun on board the U.S.S. Richmond during action against rebel forts and gunboats and with the ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. Despite damage to his ship and the loss of several men on board as enemy fire raked her decks, Sgt. Martin fought his gun with skill and courage throughout a furious two-hour battle which resulted in the surrender of the rebel ram Tennessee and in the damaging and destruction of batteries at Fort Morgan.

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

Timeline

  1. 1826
    Born in Derry, Ireland
  2. August 5, 1864
    Act of valor — Mobile Bay, Alabama
    Age about 38. U.S.S. Richmond
  3. October 29, 1895
    Died
    Age about 69.
  4. Resting place
    Mount Moriah Cemetery
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Also honored for actions on August 5, 1864

TA Thomas E. Atkinson Yeoman · Navy Civil War · 1864 JA James Avery Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864 CB Charles Baker Quarter Gunner · Navy Civil War · 1864 WB William Blagheen Ship's Cook · Navy Civil War · 1864 JB John Brazell Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1864 JB John Brown Captain of the Forecastle · Navy Civil War · 1864 RB Robert Brown Captain of the Top · Navy Civil War · 1864 WB William H. Brown Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1864 WB Wilson Brown Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1864 JB John M. Burns Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864 WC William M. Carr Master-at-Arms · Navy Civil War · 1864 MC Michael Cassidy Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1864

See all 98 recipients for August 5, 1864 →

Same unit

JH John S. Hickman Second Class Fireman · Navy Civil War · 1863 MM Matthew McClelland First Class Fireman · Navy Civil War · 1863 TM Thomas Mitchell Landsman · Navy Interim 1871–1899 · 1879 JR John Rush First Class Fireman · Navy Civil War · 1863 Joseph E. Vantine First Class Fireman · Navy Civil War · 1863

More Civil War recipients from Pennsylvania

RC Robert Teleford Clifford Master-at-Arms · Navy Civil War · 1863 CC Charles H. Clausen First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864 CB Charles Blucher Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 JM John William Mostoller Private · Army Civil War · 1864 Solomon J. Hottenstine Private · Army Civil War · 1864 WS William Sands First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865
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.