James Barnum

James was born in Boston, Massachusetts, sometime in 1814, and very little is known about his early and later life. It is known that he joined the Navy in 1847 and was a Boatswain’s Mate on board the USS New Ironsides when he displayed actions that would later earn him the Medal of Honor. The citation reads:

Barnum served on board the U.S.S. New Ironsides during action in several attacks on Fort Fisher, 24 and 25 December 1864; and on 13, 14, and 15 January 1865. The ship steamed in and took the lead in the ironclad division close inshore and immediately opened its starboard battery in a barrage of well-directed fire to cause several fires and explosions and dismount several guns during the first two days of fighting. Taken under fire as she steamed into position on 13 January, the New Ironsides fought all day and took on ammunition at night despite severe weather conditions. When the enemy came out of his bombproofs to defend the fort against the storming party, the ship's battery disabled nearly every gun on the fort facing the shore before the cease-fire orders were given by the flagship. Barnum was commended for highly meritorious conduct during this period.

The orders for James’ Medal of Honor are dated for the 22nd of June 1865, though I found no record of when he would have received it. He re-enlisted in the Navy on the 15th of June 1865 for three years and that is the last record for James Barnum that I could find. In fact, there is no known date of death or place of burial recorded.