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Seaman and Gun Captain · U.S. Navy

Thomas Bourne

Seaman and Gun Captain Thomas Bourne, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on April 24, 1862 in Forts Jackson & St. Philip, Louisiana during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War April 24, 1862Born in England

Seaman and Gun Captain Thomas Bourne was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 24, 1862 in Forts Jackson & St. Philip, Louisiana during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Varuna. Bourne was about 28 years old.

18 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on August 11, 1893, 31 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Chief Quartermaster.

Bourne was born in 1834 in England — one of 98 recipients born in England. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York, New York. Bourne died on March 22, 1888 in Newburg, Michigan, at the age of about 54. He is buried at Poe Cemetery in Jones, Michigan. His medal is held by Michigan Heroes Museum, Frankenmuth, MI.

Bourne 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 a captain of a gun on board the U.S.S. Varuna during an attack on Forts Jackson and St. Philip and while under fire and ramming by the rebel ship Morgan, 24 April 1862. During this action at extremely close range, while his ship was under furious fire and was twice rammed by the rebel ship Morgan, Bourne remained steadfast at his gun and was instrumental in inflicting damage on the enemy until the Varuna, badly damaged and forced to beach, was finally sunk.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: England — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. 1834
    Born in England
  2. April 24, 1862
    Act of valor — Forts Jackson & St. Philip, Louisiana
    Age about 28. U.S.S. Varuna
  3. March 22, 1888
    Died in Newburg, Michigan
    Age about 54.
  4. August 11, 1893
    Medal of Honor presented
  5. Resting place
    Poe Cemetery
    Jones, Michigan

Biography

Thomas Bourne (c. 1834 – March 22, 1888) was a Union Navy sailor in the American Civil War and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions at the Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip.

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

Also honored for actions on April 24, 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 JF John B. Frisbee Gunner's Mate · 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 New York

WB William Blagheen Ship's Cook · Navy Civil War · 1864 HC Hartwell B. Compson Major · Army Civil War · 1865 JG James R. Garrison Coal Heaver · Navy Civil War · 1864 Andrew Jackson Lorish Commissary Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 JG James H. Gribben First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 JE John P. Erickson Captain of the Forecastle · Navy 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.