Captain of the Foretop James McLeod, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry between April 24 and 25, 1862 in Forts Jackson & St. Philip and New Orleans, Louisiana during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Pensacola. McLeod was about 26 years old.
18 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on May 1863. While on board the USS Ino.
McLeod was born in 1836 in Scotland — one of 41 recipients born in Scotland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Maine. McLeod died on June 5, 1898 in Brooklyn, New York, US, at the age of about 62. He is buried at Cypress Hills National Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.
McLeod is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 66 credited to Maine.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Captain of the foretop, and a volunteer from the Colorado, McLeod served on board the U.S.S. Pensacola during the attack on Forts Jackson and St. Philip and the taking of New Orleans, 24 and 25 April 1862. Acting as gun captain of the rifled howitzer aft, which was much exposed, he served this piece with great ability and activity, although no officer superintended it.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
Timeline
- 1836Born in Scotland
- April 24 - 25, 1862Act of valor — Forts Jackson & St. Philip and New Orleans, LouisianaAge about 26. U.S.S. Pensacola
- May 1863Medal of Honor presentedWhile on board the USS Ino .
- June 5, 1898Died in Brooklyn, New York, USAge about 62.
- Resting placeCypress Hills National CemeteryBrooklyn, New York
Biography
James McLeod (b. 1836 to 1840 - d. June 5, 1898) was a Union Navy sailor in the American Civil War and a recipient of a Medal of Honor (the U.S. military's highest decoration), for his actions at the Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip.
From the Wikipedia article “James McLeod (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
