Ordinary Seaman Thomas Harcourt, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on January 15, 1865 at Fort Fisher, North Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Minnesota. Harcourt was about 24 years old.
30 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Harcourt was born in 1841 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. His Medal of Honor is credited to Massachusetts. His medal is held by Naval Historical Center, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC.
Harcourt 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
On board the U.S.S. Minnesota in action during the assault on Fort Fisher, 15 January 1865. Landing on the beach with the assaulting party from his ship, Harcourt advanced to the top of the sandhill and partly through the breach in the palisades despite enemy fire, which killed and wounded many officers and men. When more than two-thirds of the men became seized with panic and retreated on the run, he remained with the party until dark when it came safely away, bringing its wounded, its arms, and its colors.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
- Born: Boston — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →
Timeline
- 1841Born in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts
- January 15, 1865Act of valor — Fort Fisher, North CarolinaAge about 24. U.S.S. Minnesota
Biography
Thomas Harcourt (c. 1841 – Unknown) was a U.S. sailor stationed aboard the USS Minnesota 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 “Thomas Harcourt (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
