QM Thomas Cripps - Philadelphia, PA
Posted by: 
ODragon
N 39° 56.823 W 075° 12.207
18S E 482620 N 4421900
A Medal of Honor recipient from the Civil War.
Waymark Code: WM1KG
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 09/18/2005
Views: 37
I found Thomas Cripps, a Civil War Medal of Honor winner in Philadelphia PA's Woodlands cemetery.
Born: November 29, 1840 at Philadelphia, PA
Entered Service in the US Navy from Pennsylvania
Earned The Medal of Honor During the Civil War For heroism August 05, 1864 at Mobile Bay, Fort Morgan, AL
Died: December 08, 1906 at the age of 66
On August 5, Union Admiral David Farragut's Union fleet of eighteen ships entered Mobile Bay, Alabama, and received a devastating fire from Forts Gaines and Morgan and other points. His wooden ships fought valiantly under this devastating fire as well as shells from the rebel gunboats and the ironclad ram Tennessee. After passing the forts, Farragut forced the Confederate naval forces under Admiral Buchanan, to surrender, along with the prized ram Tennessee. Fort Morgan was destroyed and this action effectively closed Mobile Bay as a Confederate port, making the action one of the greatest Naval victories of the war. Ninety sailors and eight Marines were awarded Medals of Honor, the most for any single day in history. Twenty-nine crewmen of the U.S.S. Richmond were numbered among these heroes, including Quartermaster Thomas Cripps, captain of a gun. Despite damage to his ship and the loss of several men on board as enemy fire raked her decks, Quartermaster Cripps fought his gun with skill and courage throughout a furious two-hour battle.
Armed Service: Navy
|
Visit Instructions:
To properly log your find, post a photograph of the medal recipient's grave marker. Do not place anything on the grave when taking the photo. If you have more information about the recipient please include it in your log.