Charles H. Foy

Steadfast Under Fire at the Battle of Fort Fisher

Charles H. Foy was an American sailor who received the United States Medal of Honor for his courageous service during the American Civil War. Serving as a signal quartermaster aboard USS Rhode Island, Foy distinguished himself during the Union naval operations against Fort Fisher and the Federal Point batteries in North Carolina from January 13 to 15, 1865. His faithful performance of duty throughout the engagement earned him the nation's highest military decoration.

Born around 1809 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Foy spent much of his early life associated with the maritime profession. Some historical accounts identify his longer name as Charles Henry Foy or Charles Henry Foye. He became a merchant seaman while still a young man, beginning a career at sea that preceded his service in the United States Navy.

The surviving records provide limited information about his childhood, family circumstances, and education. His experience in merchant shipping, however, established his connection to maritime service before the outbreak of the Civil War.

In July 1861, shortly after the conflict began, Foy entered the United States Navy from Boston, Massachusetts. He was then in his early fifties, considerably older than many of the men entering military service during the war.

Foy was assigned to USS Rhode Island, a steam-powered vessel serving with the Union Navy. During the Civil War, the ship performed duties supporting naval operations along the Atlantic coast, including activities associated with the Union blockade and the movement of supplies and personnel.

Foy served as a signal quartermaster, a naval rating associated with signaling, navigation-related duties, and the operation of shipboard equipment. His service placed him within the crew responsible for maintaining the vessel's effectiveness during demanding wartime operations.

By January 1865, Union naval and land forces were preparing another major assault against Fort Fisher, the Confederate stronghold protecting the approaches to Wilmington, North Carolina. Wilmington remained an important port for Confederate blockade-running vessels, and control of Fort Fisher was essential to restricting access to the harbor.

A previous Union attempt to capture Fort Fisher in December 1864 had failed. In January 1865, a renewed expedition brought together a powerful naval force commanded by Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter and Union ground troops under Major General Alfred H. Terry.

The Second Battle of Fort Fisher began on January 13, 1865, with Union naval vessels supporting the attack against Confederate fortifications. The bombardment continued as Federal troops prepared to assault the defensive positions.

USS Rhode Island participated in the operations against Fort Fisher and the nearby Federal Point batteries. Foy remained at his assigned duties as the engagement unfolded.

The battle involved heavy naval gunfire directed against Confederate defensive works. The attacking Union forces faced determined resistance, and the fighting intensified as soldiers, sailors, and marines attempted to overcome the fortifications.

Throughout the engagement, Foy performed his responsibilities with courage and discipline. His official Medal of Honor citation particularly emphasized his good conduct and faithful service during the battle.

The citation recognized that he carried out his duties courageously while serving aboard USS Rhode Island during the actions from January 13 to 15, 1865. It also acknowledged the heavy casualties suffered during the attempt to storm Fort Fisher.

Foy's recognized achievement was his sustained performance under combat conditions. Unlike recipients whose citations describe capturing an enemy flag or rescuing a wounded soldier, his award honored the courage and reliability he demonstrated while carrying out his naval duties throughout the engagement.

The surviving citation does not identify a specific instance in which Foy personally operated a gun, rescued another sailor, or led an assault party. His documented distinction lies in the faithful execution of his assigned responsibilities during the dangerous naval operation.

On January 15, 1865, Union forces succeeded in capturing Fort Fisher after intense fighting. The victory closed a major Confederate defensive position and contributed to the eventual loss of Wilmington as a usable Confederate port.

Foy's conduct during the three-day engagement earned him formal recognition. Under General Orders No. 59, dated June 22, 1865, Charles H. Foy was awarded the Medal of Honor for his courageous service aboard USS Rhode Island.

The decoration recognized his performance as a signal quartermaster during the naval operations against Fort Fisher and the Federal Point batteries. His bravery became part of the official record of the Union Navy's participation in the battle.

Foy continued his association with naval service into the period following the Civil War. His recorded service extended through 1866, although the available accounts do not provide a comprehensive description of his final assignments or the circumstances surrounding his separation from the Navy.

His life after the war was brief. Charles H. Foy died on May 30, 1866, in Brooklyn, New York, approximately one year after receiving recognition for his wartime service. He was buried at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, where his grave is recorded in Lot 13324, Section 10/25.

Charles H. Foy's military legacy rests on his service with the United States Navy and his performance during the Second Battle of Fort Fisher. Having spent years in maritime service before the war, he entered the Union Navy in 1861 and served during a conflict that demanded courage and endurance from sailors operating along the Confederate coastline.

His Medal of Honor commemorates the steadiness, discipline, and courage he demonstrated during the January 1865 assault. Through his service aboard USS Rhode Island, Charles H. Foy earned a lasting place among the naval recipients of the Medal of Honor during the American Civil War.