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Quarter Gunner · U.S. Navy

James Tallentine

Quarter Gunner James Tallentine, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on October 31, 1864 in Plymouth, North Carolina during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War October 31, 1864Born in England

Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Quarter Gunner James Tallentine received the Medal of Honor for his actions on October 31, 1864 in Plymouth, North Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Tacony. Tallentine was about 24 years old.

3 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on December 31, 1864.

Tallentine was born in 1840 in England — one of 98 recipients born in England. His Medal of Honor is credited to Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland. Tallentine died on January 15, 1865 in Fort Fisher, North Carolina, at the age of about 25. His medal is held by Naval Historical Center, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC.

Tallentine is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 85 credited to Maryland.

★ Gave Their Lives

Official Medal of Honor citation

Served as quarter gunner on board the U.S.S. Tacony during the taking of Plymouth, N.C., 31 October 1864. Carrying out his duties faithfully during the capture of Plymouth, Tallentine distinguished himself by a display of coolness when he participated in landing and spiking a 9-inch gun while under devastating fire from enemy musketry. Tallentine later gave his life while courageously engaged in storming Fort Fisher, 15 January 1865.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: England — map
  • Died: Fort Fisher — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Maryland →

Timeline

  1. 1840
    Born in England
  2. October 31, 1864
    Act of valor — Plymouth, North Carolina
    Age about 24. U.S.S. Tacony
  3. December 31, 1864
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. January 15, 1865
    Died in Fort Fisher, North Carolina
    Age about 25.

Biography

Quarter Gunner James Tallentine aka Tallentire (1840 – January 15, 1865) was a Union Navy sailor who fought in the American Civil War. Tallentine received his country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action in the Capture of Plymouth, North Carolina, while serving on the USS Tacony. He was posthumously honored with the award after his death in the Second Battle of Fort Fisher.

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

Further reading

Also honored for actions on October 31, 1864

PC Patrick Colbert Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1864 RG Robert Graham Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1864 MH Martin Howard Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1864

Same unit

HB Henry Brutsche Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1863

More Civil War recipients from Maryland

JS James E. Sterling Coal Heaver · Navy Civil War · 1864 JH John William Hart Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 CM Charles W. Morton Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1863 William Henry Mathews First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 WC William M. Carr Master-at-Arms · Navy Civil War · 1864 AC Abel G. Cadwallader Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865
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.