Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Seaman Thomas Jenkins received the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 27, 1863 in Vicksburg, Mississippi during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Cincinnati. Jenkins was about 32 years old.
9 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Jenkins was born in 1831 in Australia — one of 4 recipients born in Australia. His medal is held by Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Mt. Pleasant, SC.
Jenkins is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Seaman on board of the U.S. Steamer "Cincinnati" in an attack on the Vicksburg batteries, May 27, 1863. Conspicuous for coolness and bravery under a severely accurate fire. "This was no ordinary case of performance of duty."
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
- Born: Australia — map
From the archives
Note on Seaman Jenkins' Medal of Honor citation: In the 1949 publication of the "Medal of Honor, 1861 - 1949: The Navy" book by the United States Bureau of Naval Personnel, Jenkins' Medal of Honor citation read "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 shell fire that her fate was sealed. Serving bravely during this action, Jenkins 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."' Unfortunately, the error was repeated in subsequent publications. We have corrected the citation to its historic, original version.
Timeline
- 1831Born in Australia
- May 27, 1863Act of valor — Vicksburg, MississippiAge about 32. U.S.S. Cincinnati
Biography
Thomas Jenkins (c. 1831 – unknown) 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, Jenkins 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.
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