Medal of Honor Action Place: Fort Fisher, North Carolina, USA
Citation
Hawkins served on board the U.S.S. Agawam as one of a volunteer crew of a powder boat which was exploded near Fort Fisher, 23 December 1864. The powder boat, towed in by the Wilderness, to prevent detection by the enemy, cast off and slowly steamed to within 300 yards of the beach. After fuses and fires had been lit and a second anchor with short scope let go to assure the boat's tailing inshore, the crew again boarded the Wilderness and and proceeded a distance of 12 miles from shore. Less than two hours later the explosion took place, and the following day fires were observed still burning at the forts.
Additional Details
Accredited to: Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
Awarded Posthumously: No
Presentation Date & Details: May 12, 1865 on board the U.S.S. Agawam off New Bern, North Carolina
Born: 1834, Scotland
Died: February 29, 1908, Cranston, RI, United States
Buried: St. Mary's Cemetery, Cranston, RI, United States