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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Seaman · U.S. Navy

John Sullivan

Seaman John Sullivan, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions between June 23 and 25, 1864 in Wilmington, North Carolina during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War June 23 - 25, 1864

Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Seaman John Sullivan received the Medal of Honor for his actions between June 23 and 25, 1864 in Wilmington, North Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Monticello. Sullivan was 24 years old.

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

Sullivan was born on March 17, 1840 in New York, New York. Sullivan died on June 23, 1913, at the age of 73. He is buried at Harmony Grove Cemetery in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Sullivan is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 678 credited to New York.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Served as seaman on board the U.S.S. Monticello during the reconnaissance of the harbor and water defenses of Wilmington, N.C., 23 to 25 June 1864. Taking part in a reconnaissance of the enemy defenses which covered a period of 2 days and nights, Sullivan courageously carried out his duties during this action, which resulted in the capture of a mail carrier and mail, the cutting of a telegraph wire, and the capture of a large group of prisoners. Although in immediate danger from the enemy at all times, Sullivan showed gallantry and coolness throughout this action, which resulted in the gaining of much vital information of the rebel defenses.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: New York City — map
  • Buried: Harmony Grove Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. March 17, 1840
    Born in New York, New York
  2. June 23 - 25, 1864
    Act of valor — Wilmington, North Carolina
    Age 24. U.S.S. Monticello
  3. June 23, 1913
    Died
    Age 73.
  4. Resting place
    Harmony Grove Cemetery
    Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Biography

John Sullivan (1839 – June 23, 1913) was a Union Navy sailor during the American Civil War who received America's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions while serving aboard the USS Monticello. Sullivan was born in 1839 in New York City. From June 23 to 25, 1864, he showed "gallantry and coolness" during a reconnaissance mission against Confederate defenses in the harbor of Wilmington, North Carolina. For these actions, he was issued the Medal of Honor six months later, on December 31, 1864. He is interred at Harmony Grove Cemetery in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

From the Wikipedia article “John Sullivan (American sailor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on June 23 - 25, 1864

JD James Drury Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 DW David Warren Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1864 WW William Wright Yeoman · Navy Civil War · 1864

More Civil War recipients from New York

WW William Westerhold Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 James G. Grindlay Colonel · Army Civil War · 1865 Martin Schubert Private · Army Civil War · 1862 JK John Kane Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 Louis Palma di Cesnola Colonel · Army Civil War · 1863 PS Philipp Schlachter Private · 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.