Veteran in crisis? Dial 988 then press 1 · Text 838255 Next observance: Navy Birthday · October 13
Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Landsman · U.S. Navy

Aaron Sanderson

Landsman Aaron Sanderson, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on March 17, 1865 at Mattox Creek, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War March 17, 1865

Landsman Aaron Sanderson was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on March 17, 1865 at Mattox Creek, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Wyandank. Sanderson was about 54 years old.

One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.

Sanderson was born in 1811 in North Carolina. His Medal of Honor is credited to Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Sanderson died on January 9, 1886 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the age of about 75. He is buried at Eden Cemetery in Collingdale, Pennsylvania. Records also list him as Anderson, Aaron (true name).

Sanderson is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Served on board the U.S.S. Wyandank during a boat expedition up Mattox Creek, 17 March 1865. Participating with a boat crew in the clearing of Mattox Creek, Landsman Sanderson carried out his duties courageously in the face of a devastating fire which cut away half the oars, pierced the launch in many places, and cut the barrel off a musket being fired at the enemy.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Life beyond the battlefield

  • Occupations: enlisted navy sailor

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: Plymouth — map
  • Died: Philadelphia — map
  • Buried: Eden Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →

Timeline

  1. 1811
    Born in North Carolina
  2. March 17, 1865
    Act of valor — Mattox Creek, Virginia
    Age about 54. U.S.S. Wyandank
  3. January 9, 1886
    Died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    Age about 75.
  4. Resting place
    Eden Cemetery
    Collingdale, Pennsylvania

Biography

Aaron Anderson or Sanderson (c. 1811 – January 9, 1886) was a Union Navy sailor during the American Civil War and the first African-American to be a recipient of America's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor. He was born in Arkansas and later lived in Pennsylvania where he worked as a cook until he joined the Navy at age 52. He was assigned to the USS Wyandank where he participated in blocking Confederate forces from getting supplies along the Potomac River. Shortly before the war ended he participated in a mission to attack a group of Confederate troops attempting to get supplies.

From the Wikipedia article “Aaron Anderson (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on March 17, 1865

PM Patrick Mullen Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1865

More Civil War recipients from Pennsylvania

JS James Snedden Musician · Army Civil War · 1864 JW John Henry White Private · Army Civil War · 1862 CC Charles H. Clausen First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864 CB Charles E. Brown Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 NL Nicholas Lear Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1865 Francis Morrison Private · Army Civil War · 1864
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.