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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Coxswain · U.S. Navy

Thomas Jones

Coxswain Thomas Jones, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions between January 13 and 15, 1865 at Fort Fisher, North Carolina during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War January 13 - 15, 1865

Coxswain Thomas Jones was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions between January 13 and 15, 1865 at Fort Fisher, North Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Ticonderoga. Jones was about 45 years old.

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

Jones was born in 1820 in Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland. Jones died on December 11, 1892 in Annapolis, Maryland, at the age of about 72. He is buried at U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, Maryland.

Jones is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 85 credited to Maryland.

Official Medal of Honor citation

On board the U.S.S. Ticonderoga during attacks on Fort Fisher, 24 and 25 December 1864; and 13 to 15 January 1865. Despite heavy return fire by the enemy and the explosion of the 100-pounder Parrott rifle which killed eight men and wounded 12 more, Jones, as captain of a gun, performed his duties with skill and courage during the first two days of battle. As his ship again took position on the line on the 13th, he remained steadfast as the Ticonderoga maintained a well-placed fire upon the batteries onshore, and thereafter, as she materially lessened the power of the guns on the mound which had been turned upon our assaulting columns. During this action the flag was planted on one side of the strongest fortifications possessed by the rebels.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Baltimore — map
  • Died: Annapolis — map
  • Buried: Annapolis National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Maryland →

Timeline

  1. 1820
    Born in Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland
  2. January 13 - 15, 1865
    Act of valor — Fort Fisher, North Carolina
    Age about 45. U.S.S. Ticonderoga
  3. December 11, 1892
    Died in Annapolis, Maryland
    Age about 72.
  4. Resting place
    U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery
    Annapolis, Maryland

Biography

Thomas Jones (c. 1820 – December 11, 1892) was a sailor in the U.S. Navy 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 Jones (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on January 13 - 15, 1865

JB James Barnum Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1865 RB Richard Binder Sergeant · Marine Corps Civil War · 1865 EB Edward R. Bowman Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1865 WC William Campbell Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1865 JD John Dempster Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1865 WD William Dunn Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1865 TE Thomas English Signal Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1865 CF Charles H. Foy Signal Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1865 Isaac N. Fry Orderly Sergeant · Marine Corps Civil War · 1865 EH Edmund Haffee Quarter Gunner · Navy Civil War · 1865 JH Joseph B. Hayden Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1865 NL Nicholas Lear Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1865

See all 17 recipients for January 13 - 15, 1865 →

Same unit

James Jonas Madison Lieutenant Commander · Navy World War I · 1918 GP George Prance Captain of the Main Top · Navy Civil War · 1864 WS William Shipman Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1865 WT William G. Taylor Captain of the Forecastle · Navy Civil War · 1864

More Civil War recipients from Maryland

JB John E. Buffington Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 WT William Taylor Sergeant & Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864 AC Abel G. Cadwallader Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 JC Joseph Franklin Carter Captain · Army Civil War · 1865 Benjamin Swearer Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1861 CV Charles Veal Private · Army Civil War · 1864
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.