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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Sergeant · U.S. Army

John Darling Terry

Sergeant John Darling Terry, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on March 14, 1862 in New Bern, North Carolina during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War March 14, 1862

Sergeant John Darling Terry, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on March 14, 1862 in New Bern, North Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company E, 23d Massachusetts Infantry. Terry was 16 years old.

One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on October 12, 1867, 5 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Major.

Terry was born on September 3, 1845 in Edinburgh, Waldo County, Maine. His Medal of Honor is credited to Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. Terry died on March 4, 1919, at the age of 73. He is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Bronx, New York.

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

Official Medal of Honor citation

In the thickest of the fight, where he lost his leg by a shot, still encouraged the men until carried off the field.

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

Wounds and injuries

What the citation records about his wounds:

In the thickest of the fight, where he lost his leg by a shot, still encouraged the men until carried off the field.

Battles and campaigns

1862 · Civil War

Battle of New Bern

Result: Union victory

2 Medal of Honor recipients

Places

  • Born: Montville — map
  • Died: Brooklyn — map
  • Buried: Woodlawn Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →

Timeline

  1. September 3, 1845
    Born in Edinburgh, Waldo County, Maine
  2. March 14, 1862
    Act of valor — New Bern, North Carolina
    Age 16. Company E, 23d Massachusetts Infantry
  3. October 12, 1867
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. March 4, 1919
    Died
    Age 73.
  5. Resting place
    Woodlawn Cemetery
    Bronx, New York

Biography

John Darling Terry (September 3, 1845 – March 4, 1919) was a United States Army soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Terry received the Medal of Honor for bravery during combat. Terry's medal was won for "extraordinary heroism" during the Battle of New Bern in North Carolina on March 14, 1862. He was honored with the award on October 12, 1867. Terry was born in Montville, Maine. He joined the Army from Boston, Massachusetts, in September 1861, and was discharged due to the loss of his leg in March 1863. While recovering in Manhattan, New York he volunteered for service during the draft riots.

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

Also honored for actions on March 14, 1862

JT James Harry Thompson Surgeon · Army Civil War · 1862

More Civil War recipients from Massachusetts

HL Hugh Logan Captain of the Afterguard · Navy Civil War · 1862 FW Frank M. Whitman Private · Army Civil War · 1862 GM George Moore Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1862 WM William Moore Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1862 Russell C. Elliott Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 CH Conrad Homan Color Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864
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.