Joseph White – Medal of Honor, Civil War (1864)

Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Coxswain Joseph White received the Medal of Honor for his actions on December 24, 1864 at Fort Fisher, North Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. New Ironsides. White was about 24 years old.

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

White was born in 1840 in Washington. His Medal of Honor is credited to Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. His medal is held by Naval Historical Center, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC.

White is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.

Official Medal of Honor citation

White served on board the U.S.S. New Ironsides during action in several attacks on Fort Fisher, 24 and 25 December 1864; and 13, 14 and 15 January 1865. The ship steamed in and took the lead in the ironclad division close inshore and immediately opened its starboard battery in a barrage of well-directed fire to cause several fires and explosions and dismount several guns during the first two days of fighting. Taken under fire as she steamed into position on 13 January, the New Ironsidesfought all day and took on ammunition at night, despite severe weather conditions. When the enemy came out of their bombproofs to defend the fort against the storming party, the ship's battery disabled nearly every gun on the fort facing the shore before the cease-fire order was given by the flagship.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

Born: Washington, D.C. — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →

Timeline

1840
Born in Washington
December 24, 1864
Act of valor — Fort Fisher, North Carolina
Age about 24. U.S.S. New Ironsides

Biography

Joseph White (c. 1840 – unknown) was a sailor in the U.S. Navy during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Second Battle of Fort Fisher on January 15, 1865.

From the Wikipedia article “Joseph White (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on December 24, 1864

JA John Angling Cabin Boy · Navy Civil War · 1864 AB Asa Betham Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1864 RB Robert M. Blair Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1864 HC Harrison Collins Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 GM George Washington McWilliams Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1864 GP George Prance Captain of the Main Top · Navy Civil War · 1864 WT William G. Taylor Captain of the Forecastle · Navy Civil War · 1864 AW Anthony Williams Sailmaker's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1864

Same unit

JB James Barnum Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1865 JD John Dempster Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1865 TE Thomas English Signal Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1865 EH Edmund Haffee Quarter Gunner · Navy Civil War · 1865 NL Nicholas Lear Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1865 DM Daniel Milliken Quarter Gunner · Navy Civil War · 1865 RW Richard Willis Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1865

More Civil War recipients from Pennsylvania

Frank Furness Captain · Army Civil War · 1864 AM Alexander H. Mitchell First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864 CB Charles E. Brown Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 HT Hampton Sidney Thomas Major · Army Civil War · 1865 AW Albert D. Wright Captain · Army Civil War · 1864 JD John A. Davidsizer Sergeant · 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.