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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

First Lieutenant · U.S. Army

Thomas H. l Payne

First Lieutenant Thomas H. l Payne, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on April 9, 1865 at Fort Blakely, Alabama during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War April 9, 1865

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, First Lieutenant Thomas H. l Payne received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 9, 1865 at Fort Blakely, Alabama during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company E, 37th Illinois Infantry. Payne was 24 years old.

18 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 1, 1898, 32 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Captain.

Payne was born on October 5, 1840 in Boston, Boston Suffolk County, Massachusetts. His Medal of Honor is credited to Mendota, La Salle County, Illinois. Payne died on September 13, 1909 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the age of 68. He is buried at Fernwood Cemetery in Fernwood, Pennsylvania.

Payne is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 210 credited to Illinois.

Official Medal of Honor citation

While acting regimental quartermaster, learning of an expected assault, Payne requested assignment to a company that had no commissioned officers present; was so assigned, and was one of the first to lead his men into the enemy's works.

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

Timeline

  1. October 5, 1840
    Born in Boston, Boston Suffolk County, Massachusetts
  2. April 9, 1865
    Act of valor — Fort Blakely, Alabama
    Age 24. Company E, 37th Illinois Infantry
  3. April 1, 1898
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. September 13, 1909
    Died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    Age 68.
  5. Resting place
    Fernwood Cemetery
    Fernwood, Pennsylvania

Also honored for actions on April 9, 1865

JC John H. Callahan Private · Army Civil War · 1865 James Lemuel Carey Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 JD John P. Donaldson Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 Henry S. Finkenbiner Private · Army Civil War · 1865 WF West Funk Major · Army Civil War · 1865 SM Samuel McConnell Captain · Army Civil War · 1865 Henry Clay Merriam Lieutenant Colonel · Army Civil War · 1865 HM Henry August Miller Captain · Army Civil War · 1865 DM Daniel B. Moore Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 WM William H. Myers Private · Army Civil War · 1865 HN Henry Clay Nichols Captain · Army Civil War · 1865 Patrick Henry Pentzer Captain · Army Civil War · 1865

See all 19 recipients for April 9, 1865 →

More Civil War recipients from Illinois

EP Edward M. Pike First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1862 WS William G. Stephens Private · Army Civil War · 1863 JW John Warden Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 JD James Dunne Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 Leverett Mansfield Kelley Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 MD Martin K. Davis Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.