Thomas G. Lyons – Medal of Honor, Civil War (1862)

Seaman Thomas G. Lyons 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. Pensacola. Lyons was about 24 years old.

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

Lyons was born in 1838 in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts. His Medal of Honor is credited to Massachusetts. Lyons died on August 29, 1904 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the age of about 66. He is buried at Mount Moriah Cemetery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Lyons 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

Served as seaman on board the U.S.S. Pensacola in the attack on Forts Jackson and St. Philip, 24 April 1862. Carrying out his duties throughout the din and roar of the battle, Lyons never once erred in his brave performance. Lashed outside of that vessel, on the port-sheet chain, with the lead in hand to lead the ship past the forts, Lyons never flinched, although under a heavy fire from the forts and rebel gunboats.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

Born: Salem — map
Buried: Mount Moriah Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →

Timeline

1838
Born in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts
April 24, 1862
Act of valor — Forts Jackson & St. Philip, Louisiana
Age about 24. U.S.S. Pensacola
August 29, 1904
Died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Age about 66.
Resting place
Mount Moriah Cemetery
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Biography

Thomas Lyons (c. 1838 – August 29, 1904) was a sailor in the United States Navy and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the American Civil War. Lyons was born sometime in about 1838 in Salem, Massachusetts. On April 24, 1862, he was on board USS Pensacola during the attack on Fort Jackson and Fort St. Philip. Lashed outside of that vessel, on the port-sheet chain, with the lead in hand to lead the ship past the forts, Lyons never flinched, although under a heavy fire from the forts and Confederate gunboats. His actions earned the Medal of Honor.

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

Also honored for actions on April 24, 1862

TB Thomas Bourne Seaman and Gun Captain · Navy Civil War · 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 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 →

Same unit

PR Patrick Regan Ordinary Seaman · Navy Interim 1871–1899 · 1873 HT Henry Thompson Seaman · Navy Interim 1871–1899 · 1878

More Civil War recipients from Massachusetts

Eugene W. Ferris First Lieutenant & Adjutant · Army Civil War · 1865 BK Barnett Kenna Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1864 HY Horatio Nelson Young Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1863 RB Robert M. Boody Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 RG Robert J. Gardner Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865

George Henry Maynard Private · Army Civil War · 1862

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.