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Gunner's Mate · U.S. Navy

John B. Frisbee

Gunner's Mate John B. Frisbee, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on April 24, 1862 in Forts Jackson & St. Philip and New Orleans, Louisiana during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War April 24, 1862

Gunner's Mate John B. Frisbee, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on April 24, 1862 in Forts Jackson & St. Philip and New Orleans, Louisiana during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S. Steam Gunboat Pinola. Frisbee was 37 years old.

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

Frisbee was born on January 7, 1825 in Phippsburg, Sagadahoc County, Maine. His Medal of Honor is credited to Brookline, Norfolk County, Massachusetts. Frisbee died on September 9, 1903 in Bath, Maine, at the age of 78. He is buried at Fairview Cemetery in Winnegance, Maine.

Frisbee is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 265 credited to Massachusetts.

★ Fire & Explosions at Sea

Official Medal of Honor citation

Served on board the U.S. steam gunboat Pinola during action against Forts Jackson and St. Philip, and during the taking of New Orleans, 24 April 1862. While engaged in the bombardment of Fort St. Philip, Frisbee, acting courageously and without personal regard, closed the powder magazine which had been set afire by enemy shelling and shut off his avenue of escape, thereby setting a high example of bravery. He served courageously throughout these engagements which resulted in the taking of the Forts Jackson and St Philip and in the surrender of New Orleans.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Phippsburg — map
  • Buried: Winnegance — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →

Timeline

  1. January 7, 1825
    Born in Phippsburg, Sagadahoc County, Maine
  2. April 24, 1862
    Act of valor — Forts Jackson & St. Philip and New Orleans, Louisiana
    Age 37. U.S. Steam Gunboat Pinola
  3. September 9, 1903
    Died in Bath, Maine
    Age 78.
  4. Resting place
    Fairview Cemetery
    Winnegance, Maine

Biography

John B. Frisbee (January 7, 1825 – September 9, 1903) was a Union Navy sailor in the American Civil War and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions at the Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip.

From the Wikipedia article “John B. Frisbee”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on April 24, 1862

TB Thomas Bourne Seaman and Gun Captain · Navy Civil War · 1862 AB Amos Bradley Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1862 CB Christopher Brennan Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1862 JB James Buck Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1862 Edward Farrell Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1862 TF Thomas S. Flood Boy · Navy Civil War · 1862 JG John Greene Captain of the Forecastle · Navy Civil War · 1862 GH George Hollat Third Class Boy · Navy Civil War · 1862 TL Thomas G. Lyons Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1862 WM William Martin Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1862 JM John McGowan Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1862 WM William McKnight Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1862

See all 19 recipients for April 24, 1862 →

More Civil War recipients from Massachusetts

JM Jeremiah Mahoney First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 Edmund Rice Major · Army Civil War · 1863 Lowell Mason Maxham Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 DM Daniel J. Murphy Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 FD Frederick Nelson Deland Private · Army Civil War · 1863 John Darling Terry Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1862
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.