Coal Heaver Benjamin Lloyd, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on May 25, 1864 at Roanoke River, North Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Wyalusing. Lloyd was about 25 years old.
4 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. He later rose to the rank of Fireman Second Class.
Lloyd was born in 1839 in Liverpool, England — one of 98 recipients born in England. His Medal of Honor is credited to Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.
Lloyd 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
Serving on board the U.S.S. Wyalusing and paticipating in a plan to destroy the rebel ram Albemarle in Roanoke River, 25 May 1864. Volunteering for the hazardous mission, Lloyd participated in the transfer of two torpedoes across an island swamp. Serving as boatkeeper, he aided in rescuing others of the party who had been detected before the plan could be completed, but who escaped, leaving detection of the plan impossible. By his skill and courage, Lloyd succeeded in returning to the mother ship after spending 24 hours of discomfort in the rain and swamp.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
- Born: Liverpool — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →
Timeline
- 1839Born in Liverpool, England
- May 25, 1864Act of valor — Roanoke River, North CarolinaAge about 25. U.S.S. Wyalusing
