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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Seaman · U.S. Navy

Alfred Peterson

Seaman Alfred Peterson, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on October 3, 1862 in Franklin, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War October 3, 1862Born in Sweden

Seaman Alfred Peterson, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on October 3, 1862 in Franklin, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Commodore Perry. Peterson was about 24 years old.

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

Peterson was born in 1838 in Sweden — one of 17 recipients born in Sweden. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York, New York.

Peterson is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 678 credited to New York.

Official Medal of Honor citation

On board the U.S.S. Commodore Perry in the attack upon Franklin, Va., 3 October 1862. With enemy fire raking the deck of his ship and blockades thwarting her progress, Peterson remained at his post and performed his duties with skill and courage as the Commodore Perry fought a gallant battle to silence many rebel batteries as she steamed down the Blackwater River.

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

Timeline

  1. 1838
    Born in Sweden
  2. October 3, 1862
    Act of valor — Franklin, Virginia
    Age about 24. U.S.S. Commodore Perry

Also honored for actions on October 3, 1862

TB Thomas Barton Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1862 JB John Breen Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1862 JB James H. Burbank Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1862 DL Daniel Lakin Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1862 William Wallace McCammon First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1862 DM Dennis J. f Murphy Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1862 ES Edwin Smith Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1862 JW John Williams Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1862

More Civil War recipients from New York

John Porter Hatch Brigadier General · Army Civil War · 1862 James G. Grindlay Colonel · Army Civil War · 1865 FS Frank Shubert Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 RG Robert Graham Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1864 PD Patrick Dougherty Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1864 HW Henry S. Webster Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1865
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.