Captain of the Hold Thomas Kane was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on January 15, 1865 at Fort Fisher, North Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Nereus. Kane was about 24 years old.
30 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Kane was born in 1841 in Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey. His Medal of Honor is credited to New Jersey.
Kane is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 93 credited to New Jersey.
Official Medal of Honor citation
On board the U.S.S. Nereus during the attack on Fort Fisher, 15 January 1865. Kane, as captain of the hold, displayed outstanding skill and courage as his ship maintained its well-directed fire against fortifications onshore despite the enemy's return fire. When a rebel steamer was discovered in the river back of the fort, the Nereus, with forward rifle guns trained, drove the ship off at the third fire. The gallant ship's participation contributed to the planting of the flag on one 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: Jersey City — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New Jersey →
Timeline
- 1841Born in Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey
- January 15, 1865Act of valor — Fort Fisher, North CarolinaAge about 24. U.S.S. Nereus
Biography
Thomas Kane (c. 1841 – unknown date of death) 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 Kane (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
