Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. A native of New York, he enlisted in the Union Army at age 33, being mustered in at Brooklyn, New York City into Company C, 48th New York Volunteer Infantry on December 14, 1863. He served in the army until April 1864, when he transferred to the United States Navy, was mustered as an Ordinary Seaman, and was assigned as a crewmember on the "USS Minnesota". In January 1865 his ship was part of the combined Army and Navy assault and capture of Fort Fisher, North Carolina, which had protected the port of Wilmington, the last open seaport in the Confederacy. Seaman Wilcox was selected to be part of a temporary brigade and sailors and marines from the Union fleet who enacted a direct assault on the Fort on January 15, 1865, and he would be awarded the CMOH for his bravery during the attack. His citation reads “Landing on the beach with the assaulting party from his ship, Wilcox advanced to the top of the sandhill and partly through the breach in the palisades, despite enemy fire which killed and wounded many officers and men. When more than two-thirds of the men became seized with panic and retreated on the run, he remained with the party until dark when it came safely away, bringing its wounded, its arms and its colors." One of nine “Minnesota” crewmen to be awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions during the assault, he was awarded his on June 22, 1865.
Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. A native of New York, he enlisted in the Union Army at age 33, being mustered in at Brooklyn, New York City into Company C, 48th New York Volunteer Infantry on December 14, 1863. He served in the army until April 1864, when he transferred to the United States Navy, was mustered as an Ordinary Seaman, and was assigned as a crewmember on the "USS Minnesota". In January 1865 his ship was part of the combined Army and Navy assault and capture of Fort Fisher, North Carolina, which had protected the port of Wilmington, the last open seaport in the Confederacy. Seaman Wilcox was selected to be part of a temporary brigade and sailors and marines from the Union fleet who enacted a direct assault on the Fort on January 15, 1865, and he would be awarded the CMOH for his bravery during the attack. His citation reads “Landing on the beach with the assaulting party from his ship, Wilcox advanced to the top of the sandhill and partly through the breach in the palisades, despite enemy fire which killed and wounded many officers and men. When more than two-thirds of the men became seized with panic and retreated on the run, he remained with the party until dark when it came safely away, bringing its wounded, its arms and its colors." One of nine “Minnesota” crewmen to be awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions during the assault, he was awarded his on June 22, 1865.
Bio by: RPD2
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