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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Fireman · U.S. Navy

Alexander Crawford

Fireman Alexander Crawford, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on May 25, 1864 at Roanoke River, North Carolina during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War May 25, 1864

Fireman Alexander Crawford was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 25, 1864 at Roanoke River, North Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Wyalusing. Crawford was about 22 years old.

4 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.

Crawford was born in 1842 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Crawford died on March 17, 1886, at the age of about 44. He is buried at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Crawford 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

On board the U.S.S. Wyalusing, Crawford volunteered 25 May 1864, in a night attempt to destroy the rebel ram Albemarle in the Roanoke River. Taking part in a plan to explode the rebel ram Albemarle, Crawford executed his part in the plan with perfection, but upon being discovered, was forced to abandon the plan and retire, leaving no trace of the evidence. After spending two hazardous days and nights without food, he gained the safety of a friendly ship and was then transferred back to the Wyalusing. Though the plan failed, his skill and courage in preventing detection were an example of unfailing devotion to duty.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Pennsylvania — map
  • Died: Philadelphia — map
  • Buried: Cedar Hill Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →

Timeline

  1. 1842
    Born in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
  2. May 25, 1864
    Act of valor — Roanoke River, North Carolina
    Age about 22. U.S.S. Wyalusing
  3. March 17, 1886
    Died
    Age about 44.
  4. Resting place
    Cedar Hill Cemetery
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Biography

Alexander S. Crawford (1842 – March 17, 1886) was a sailor in the United States Navy who served in the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the war.

From the Wikipedia article “Alexander Crawford (sailor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on May 25, 1864

CB Charles H. Baldwin Coal Heaver · Navy Civil War · 1864 JL John Lafferty Fireman · Navy Civil War · 1864 BL Benjamin Lloyd Coal Heaver · Navy Civil War · 1864 JL John W. Lloyd Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1864

More Civil War recipients from Pennsylvania

CD Charles C. Davis Major · Army Civil War · 1863 MM Michael McKeever Private · Army Civil War · 1863 WC Walter Howard Cooke Captain · Army Civil War · 1861 OB Orrin Bennett Private · Army Civil War · 1865 JR Jacob F. Raub Assistant Surgeon · Army Civil War · 1865 FB Felix Brannigan Private · Army Civil War · 1863
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.