Thomas E. Corcoran facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas E. Corcoran
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Thomas E. Corcoran
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| Born | October 12, 1839 Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | March 12, 1904 (aged 64) |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States Union |
| Service/ |
United States Navy Union Navy |
| Years of service | 1861 - 1865 |
| Rank | Landsman |
| Unit | USS Santee USS Cincinnati USS Lexington |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War • Siege of Vicksburg |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
Thomas E. Corcoran (born October 12, 1839 – died March 12, 1904) was a brave sailor in the Union Navy during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor, which is the highest award for military bravery in the United States. He earned this medal for his heroic actions during the Siege of Vicksburg. Thomas Corcoran saved his shipmates when his ship, the USS Cincinnati, was sinking in the Mississippi River. Even though enemy cannons were firing heavily, Corcoran and three other sailors swam back and forth. They helped crew members who couldn't swim get safely to shore. Then, these four men pulled a small boat with injured sailors and their commander to safety.
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Thomas Corcoran's Early Life and Service
Thomas Corcoran was born in Dublin, Ireland, on October 12, 1839. When he was 21, he moved to the United States. He joined the U.S. Navy in New York on May 12, 1861. This was just one month after the American Civil War began.
He first served on the USS North Carolina as a landsman. A landsman was a sailor who was still learning. Later, he moved to the USS Santee. On this ship, he became an able seaman. This rank meant he was a skilled sailor.
In September 1862, Thomas had to leave the Navy. Many sailors on the Santee were getting sick with scurvy. He re-enlisted just one month later, in October 1862. He joined the Cincinnati as a landsman. This ship was part of the Union forces on the upper Mississippi River.
The Sinking of the USS Cincinnati
On May 27, 1863, the Union Army was fighting the Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi. The USS Cincinnati was ordered to sail down the Mississippi River. Its mission was to destroy two Confederate cannons. These cannons were stopping General William Tecumseh Sherman's troops from moving forward.
There was a large Confederate cannon battery on a high bluff. This battery could easily fire on any ship in that part of the river. Union forces knew about this battery. However, they thought the cannons had been moved. But the Confederates had tricked them. They had lowered their cannons out of sight. This made it look like the battery was gone.
The Confederate commander had also found out the Union's secret signal code. He learned about the Cincinnati's mission. So, he had his cannons put back together during the night. He then hid them in the bushes.
On the morning of May 27, the Cincinnati sailed downstream. It reached its target, the two Confederate cannons. As the Cincinnati fired its first shots, the hidden battery on the bluff also opened fire. The Union ship was completely surprised.
The first Confederate cannonball hit the Cincinnati directly. It went through the ship's ammunition storage and out the bottom. Another cannonball broke the ship's steering. The Cincinnati's own guns could not aim high enough to fire back at the battery.
The ship's commander, Lieutenant George M. Bache, knew his ship was doomed. He turned the Cincinnati around and headed upstream as fast as possible. He was looking for a place to run the ship aground. They found a good spot, tied a rope to a tree, and put out a gangplank.
Before the crew could get off, the rope came loose. The ship slipped away from the bank and began to sink. It went down in about 18 feet (5.5 meters) of water. Many sailors, including the commander, could not swim.
Thomas Corcoran's Heroic Rescue
Those who could swim, like Thomas Corcoran, began to leave the ship. But the Confederate cannons were still firing heavily. Corcoran and three other brave sailors stayed to help. These men were Boatswain's Mate Henry Dow, Seaman Thomas Jenkins, and Seaman Martin McHugh.
They swam back and forth between the sinking ship and the shore. They helped their shipmates who couldn't swim reach safety. Then, these four heroes got back on the Cincinnati. They quickly fixed a small boat that had been damaged by enemy fire. They loaded the boat with sailors who were too badly hurt to be pulled through the water.
After Lieutenant Bache also got into the boat, Corcoran and the others towed it. They pulled the boat to the safety of a Union group of ships. For these incredibly brave actions, Thomas Corcoran received the Medal of Honor. He was given the award just a month and a half later, on July 10, 1863. The other three swimmers, Dow, Jenkins, and McHugh, also received the Medal of Honor. Two more Cincinnati crewmen were also awarded the medal for their part in the action.
After the Cincinnati sank, Corcoran was moved to the USS Lexington. He finished his time in the Navy on this ship. Thomas Corcoran passed away on March 12, 1904, at the age of 64. He was buried at Calvary Cemetery in Woodside, Queens, New York.
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