Congressional Medal of Honor Society

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U.S. Civil War - U.S. Navy

John Edwards

Details
  • Rank: Captain of the Top
  • Conflict/Era: U.S. Civil War
  • Unit/Command:
    U.S.S. Lackawanna
  • Military Service Branch: U.S. Navy
  • Medal of Honor Action Date: August 5, 1864
  • Medal of Honor Action Place: Mobile Bay, Alabama, USA
Citation
As second captain of a gun on board the U.S.S. Lackawanna during successful attacks against Fort Morgan, rebel gunboats and the ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. Wounded when an enemy shell struck, Edwards refused to go below for aid and, as heavy return fire continued to strike his vessel, took the place of the first captain and carried out his duties during the prolonged action which resulted in the capture of the prize ram Tennessee and in the damaging and destruction of batteries at Fort Morgan.
Additional Details
  • Accredited to: Rhode Island
  • Awarded Posthumously: No
  • Born: 1831, Providence, Providence County, RI, United States
  • Died: December 27, 1902
  • Buried: Pocasset Cemetery (MH) (4-75), Cranston, RI, United States
 

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