Congressional Medal of Honor Society
Stories of Sacrifice
U.S. Civil War - U.S. Navy
Joseph E Vantine
Details
- Rank: First Class Fireman
- Conflict/Era: U.S. Civil War
- Unit/Command:
U.S.S. Richmond - Military Service Branch: U.S. Navy
- Medal of Honor Action Date: March 14, 1863
- Medal of Honor Action Place: Port Hudson, Louisiana, USA
Citation
Served on board the U.S.S. Richmond in the attack on Port Hudson, 14 March 1863. Damaged by a 6-inch solid rifle shot which shattered the starboard safety-valve chamber and also damaged the port safety valve, the fireroom of the Richmond immediately filled with steam, to place it in an extremely critical condition. Acting courageously in this crisis, Vantine persisted in penetrating the steam-filled room in order to haul the hot fires of the furnaces and continued this action until the gravity of the situation had been lessened.
Additional Details
- Accredited to: Pennsylvania
- Awarded Posthumously: No
- Born: March 1835, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA, United States
- Died: May 5, 1904, New Castle, DE, United States
- Buried: Glebe Cemetery, New Castle, DE, United States