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Landsman · U.S. Navy

Thomas E. Corcoran

Landsman Thomas E. Corcoran, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on May 27, 1863 in Vicksburg, Mississippi during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War May 27, 1863Born in Ireland

Landsman Thomas E. Corcoran, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on May 27, 1863 in Vicksburg, Mississippi during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Cincinnati. Corcoran was about 25 years old.

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

Corcoran was born in 1838 in Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York, New York. Corcoran died on March 12, 1904 in New York City, New York, at the age of about 66. He is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Woodside, New York.

Corcoran 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 on board the U.S.S. Cincinnati during the attack on the Vicksburg batteries and at the time of her sinking, 27 May 1863. Engaging the enemy in a fierce battle, the Cincinnati, amidst an incessant fire of shot and shell, continued to fire her guns to the last, though so penetrated by shellfire that her fate was sealed. Serving bravely during this action, Corcoran was conspicuously cool under the fire of the enemy, never ceasing to fight until this proud ship went down, "her colors nailed to the mast."

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Dublin — map
  • Buried: Calvary Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. 1838
    Born in Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland
  2. May 27, 1863
    Act of valor — Vicksburg, Mississippi
    Age about 25. U.S.S. Cincinnati
  3. March 12, 1904
    Died in New York City, New York
    Age about 66.
  4. Resting place
    Calvary Cemetery
    Woodside, New York

Biography

Thomas E. Corcoran (October 12, 1839 – March 12, 1904) 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 during the Siege of Vicksburg. He was awarded the medal for rescuing his crewmates during the sinking of his ship, the USS Cincinnati, in the Mississippi River. Under heavy fire from a Confederate artillery battery, Corcoran and three other men swam back and forth between the riverbank and the sinking ship, helping crewmen who could not swim reach shore. The four men then towed a small boat, carrying wounded sailors and the ship's commander, to the safety of Union forces.

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

Also honored for actions on May 27, 1863

FB Frank Bois Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1863 FD Frederick Nelson Deland Private · Army Civil War · 1863 HD Henry Dow Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1863 TH Thomas W. Hamilton Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1863 TJ Thomas Jenkins Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1863 HJ Henry T. Johns Private · Army Civil War · 1863 MM Martin McHugh Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1863 JS James N. Strong Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 Francis Emroy Warren Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863

More Civil War recipients from New York

GS George Schutt Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1865 Thomas M. Burke Private · Army Civil War · 1863 FJ Franklin Johndro Private · Army Civil War · 1864 Archibald Freeman Private · Army Civil War · 1864 AE Andrew Henry Embler Captain · Army Civil War · 1864 MB Morris Brown Jr. Captain · Army Civil War · 1863 ✦
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.