Quick Facts
Biography
Thomas Cripps (November 29, 1840, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – December 4, 1906, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) was an American Civil War Medal of Honor recipient. He served in the Union Navy during the Civil War as a Quartermaster on the USS Richmond. He was awarded the medal for his bravery during the naval assault on Mobile Bay, Alabama on August 5, 1864. His medal was awarded December 31, 1864.
Medal of Honor citation
His citation reads:
As captain of a gun on board the U.S.S. Richmond during action against rebel forts and gunboats and with the ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. Despite damage to his ship and the loss of several men on board as enemy fire raked her decks, Cripps fought his gun with skill and courage throughout a furious 2-hour battle which resulted in the surrender of the rebel ram Tennessee and in the damaging and destruction of batteries at Fort Morgan.