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Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
Sergeant Richard Binder, USMC
Halftone reproduction of a photograph, published in "Deeds of Valor", Volume II, page 81, by the Perrien-Keydel Company, Detroit, 1907. Sgt. Binder was awarded the Medal of Honor for his performance as Captain of a gun on board USS Ticonderoga during the assaults on Fort Fisher, North Carolina, on 24-25 December 1864 and 13-15 January 1865.
Richard Binder, variously described as having been born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1840 and in Germany on 26 July 1841, served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Civil War. In 1864-65, he was assigned to the sloop of war USS Ticonderoga . He participated in the two assaults on Fort Fisher, North Carolina, on 24-25 December 1864 and 13-15 January 1865 and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his performance at those times.
USS Ticonderoga, a 2526-ton Lackawanna class screw sloop of war built at the New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York, was commissioned in May 1863. From June into September, she operated in the West Indies, guarding against Confederate raiders, and performed the same role in the northwestern Atlantic during October 1863 to July 1864. She was then directed to search for the Confederate cruiser CSS Florida, work that continued until October. Assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron in the next month, Ticonderoga participated in the December 1864 and January 1865 attacks on Fort Fisher, North Carolina. Her Civil War service ended with a brief tour with the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron in January-March 1865, after which she was placed out of commission.
Ticonderoga went back into active service in 1866, after modifications to her rig, and was sent to European waters. She operated there, in the Mediterranean and off Africa until 1869, when she returned home for refit. In 1871-73, the ship served along South America's Atlantic coast, then spent much of 1874 with the North Atlantic Squadron. Out of commission from October 1874 until November 1878, Ticonderoga's next mission was an eastbound cruise around the World that lasted until she arrived at New York in August 1882. Decommissioned a month later, USS Ticonderoga had no further active service and was sold in August 1887.
The official Navy publication "Medal of Honor 1861-1949 -- The Navy" contains the following entry on page 15:
CITATION:
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps. Born: 1840, Philadelphia, Pa. Accredited to: Pennsylvania. Citation: On board the U.S.S. Ticonderoga during the attacks on Fort Fisher, 24 and 25 December 1864, and 13 to 15 January 1865. Despite heavy return fire by the enemy and the explosion of the 100-pounder Parrott rifle which killed 8 men and wounded 12 more, Sgt. Binder, as captain of a gun, performed his duties with skill and courage during the first 2 days of battle. As his ship again took position on the 13th, he remained steadfast as the Ticonderoga maintained a well-placed fire upon the batteries on shore, and thereafter, as she materially lessened the power of guns on the mound which had been turned upon our assaulting columns. During this action the flag was planted on one of the strongest fortifications possessed by the rebels.
"We crawled the entire distance to our posts."
Halftone reproduction of and artwork by Bacon, published in "Deeds of Valor", Volume II, page 81, by the Perrien-Keydel Company, Detroit, 1907.
It depicts a scene described by Sergeant Richard Binder, USMC, of the advance of the Navy sharpshooters' unit under Lieutenant Williams, during the Sailors' and Marines' assault on Fort Fisher, North Carolina, 15 January 1865. Binder and other surviving members of this party were awarded the Medal of Honor.
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