Lee was born on Long Island, New York in 1840[1][2] but his family moved to Buffalo while he was still a small child. Orphaned before the age of 10, he lived in Baldwinsville and North Stirling in upstate New York. He went to sea as a young man and embarked on a 3-year voyage in the Pacific Ocean. The Civil War had broken out by the time he returned to the United States and he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, reporting for duty at Boston.[1]
On June 19, 1864 he was serving as a Seaman on the sloop of warUSS Kearsarge when she fought the commerce raiderCSS Alabama off Cherbourg, France. He was awarded his Medal of Honor for gallantry under fire while serving as the sponger of the ship's Number 1 gun.[2] Lee didn't learn about his commendation until after he was discharged from the Navy, and said he had no idea what he had done during the battle to distinguish himself so highly.[1]
After the war, Lee took up residence in Oswego, New York. He was noted by his neighbors as an intelligent and honest man who was "untiring in the discharge of every duty."[1] He died there on August 9, 1877[3] of a "brain fever", probably a case of either encephalitis or meningitis. He was buried in Oswego Rural Cemetery.[3]
Medal of Honor citationEdit
Rank and organization: Seaman, U.S. Navy. Born: 1840, New York. Accredited to: New York. G.O. No.: 45, December 31, 1864.
Citation:
Served as seaman on board the U.S.S. Kearsarge when she destroyed the Alabama off Cherbourg, France, June 19, 1864. Acting as sponger of the No. 1 gun during this bitter engagement, Lee exhibited marked coolness and good conduct and was highly recommended for his gallantry under fire by the divisional officer.[2]
^ abcd"A Brave Sailor Dead". New York Times. August 17, 1877. p. 2.
^ abc. Archived from the original on September 2, 2012. Retrieved December 26, 2007.
^ ab"James H. Lee". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. Retrieved December 26, 2007.
August 29, 2023
james, 1840, august, 1877, american, sailor, received, medal, honor, valor, action, during, american, civil, born1840long, island, yorkdiedaugust, 1877, aged, oswego, yorkburiedoswego, rural, cemetery, oswego, yorkallegianceunited, states, americaunionservice,. James H Lee 1840 August 9 1877 was an American sailor who received the Medal of Honor for valor in action during the American Civil War James H LeeBorn1840Long Island New YorkDiedAugust 9 1877 aged 36 37 Oswego New YorkBuriedOswego Rural Cemetery Oswego New YorkAllegianceUnited States of AmericaUnionService wbr branchUnion NavyRankSeamanUnitUSS KearsargeBattles warsAmerican Civil WarAwardsMedal of Honor Contents 1 Biography 2 Medal of Honor citation 3 See also 4 ReferencesBiography EditLee was born on Long Island New York in 1840 1 2 but his family moved to Buffalo while he was still a small child Orphaned before the age of 10 he lived in Baldwinsville and North Stirling in upstate New York He went to sea as a young man and embarked on a 3 year voyage in the Pacific Ocean The Civil War had broken out by the time he returned to the United States and he enlisted in the U S Navy reporting for duty at Boston 1 On June 19 1864 he was serving as a Seaman on the sloop of war USS Kearsarge when she fought the commerce raider CSS Alabama off Cherbourg France He was awarded his Medal of Honor for gallantry under fire while serving as the sponger of the ship s Number 1 gun 2 Lee didn t learn about his commendation until after he was discharged from the Navy and said he had no idea what he had done during the battle to distinguish himself so highly 1 After the war Lee took up residence in Oswego New York He was noted by his neighbors as an intelligent and honest man who was untiring in the discharge of every duty 1 He died there on August 9 1877 3 of a brain fever probably a case of either encephalitis or meningitis He was buried in Oswego Rural Cemetery 3 Medal of Honor citation EditRank and organization Seaman U S Navy Born 1840 New York Accredited to New York G O No 45 December 31 1864 Citation Served as seaman on board the U S S Kearsarge when she destroyed the Alabama off Cherbourg France June 19 1864 Acting as sponger of the No 1 gun during this bitter engagement Lee exhibited marked coolness and good conduct and was highly recommended for his gallantry under fire by the divisional officer 2 See also Edit Biography portal American Civil War portalList of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients G LReferences Edit This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History a b c d A Brave Sailor Dead New York Times August 17 1877 p 2 a b c Civil War Medal of Honor recipients A L Archived from the original on September 2 2012 Retrieved December 26 2007 a b James H Lee Claim to Fame Medal of Honor recipients Find a Grave Retrieved December 26 2007 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James H Lee amp oldid 1141184734, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
