PropertyValue
rdf:type
rdfs:label
  • Thomas Plunkett
rdfs:comment
  • Thomas Plunkett (1841 - March 10, 1885) was a color bearer during the American Civil War. He carried the banner of the 21st Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry at the Battle of Fredericksburg when a cannon blast took away both of his arms and wounded him in the chest. He pressed the flag against his chest with what remained of his arms and continued until one of the color guard took the flag from him so he could retire. Both of his arms were eventually amputated, and it would take another two years for him to recover. For his actions during the battle Plunkett received the Medal of Honor. Battery Plunkett, a battery of two 4-inch rapid firing guns at Fort Warren on Georges Island in Boston Harbor (MA), was completed in 1899 and named in his honor.
owl:sameAs
Unit
  • Company E, 21st Massachusetts Infantry
dcterms:subject
dbkwik:military/property/wikiPageUsesTemplate
serviceyears
  • 1861
Birth Date
  • 1841
Branch
death place
  • Worcester, Massachusetts
Name
  • Thomas Plunkett
Caption
  • Medal of Honor recipient
placeofburial label
  • Place of burial
Birth Place
  • County Mayo, Ireland
Awards
death date
  • --03-10
Rank
Allegiance
Battles
  • American Civil War *Battle of Fredericksburg
placeofburial
abstract
  • Thomas Plunkett (1841 - March 10, 1885) was a color bearer during the American Civil War. He carried the banner of the 21st Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry at the Battle of Fredericksburg when a cannon blast took away both of his arms and wounded him in the chest. He pressed the flag against his chest with what remained of his arms and continued until one of the color guard took the flag from him so he could retire. Both of his arms were eventually amputated, and it would take another two years for him to recover. For his actions during the battle Plunkett received the Medal of Honor. Battery Plunkett, a battery of two 4-inch rapid firing guns at Fort Warren on Georges Island in Boston Harbor (MA), was completed in 1899 and named in his honor.