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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Seaman · U.S. Navy

Benjamin Swearer

Seaman Benjamin Swearer, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on August 29, 1861 at Fort Clark, off Baltimore Inlet, Maryland during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War August 29, 1861

Seaman Benjamin Swearer, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on August 29, 1861 at Fort Clark, off Baltimore Inlet, Maryland during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Pawnee. Swearer was 36 years old.

One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 14, 1864, 2 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Captain of the Foretop.

Swearer was born on May 18, 1825 in Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Maryland. Swearer died on November 2, 1902 in Saint Louis County, Missouri, at the age of 77. He is buried at St. Peters Cemetery in Saint Louis, Missouri.

Swearer is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 85 credited to Maryland.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Embarked in a surfboat from the U.S.S. Pawnee during action against Fort Clark, off Baltimore Inlet, 29 August 1861. Taking part in a mission to land troops and to remain inshore and provide protection, Swearer rendered gallant service throughout the action and had the honor of being the first man to raise the flag on the captured fort.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Baltimore — map
  • Buried: Saint Peter's Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Maryland →

Timeline

  1. May 18, 1825
    Born in Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland
  2. August 29, 1861
    Act of valor — Fort Clark, off Baltimore Inlet, Maryland
    Age 36. U.S.S. Pawnee
  3. April 14, 1864
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. November 2, 1902
    Died in Saint Louis County, Missouri
    Age 77.
  5. Resting place
    St. Peters Cemetery
    Saint Louis, Missouri

Biography

Benjamin Swearer (May 18, 1825 – November 2, 1902) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the American Civil War. While serving as a Seaman aboard the steam sloop-of-war USS Pawnee on August 29, 1861, Swearer took part in the capture of Fort Clark at Hatteras Inlet, North Carolina. For his service during this action, known as the Battle of Hatteras Inlet Batteries, Swearer was awarded the Medal of Honor on April 3, 1863.

From the Wikipedia article “Benjamin Swearer”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on August 29, 1861

JH John H. Haight Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1861

Same unit

JW John Williams Captain of the Maintop · Navy Civil War · 1861

More Civil War recipients from Maryland

FS Francis M. Smith First Lieutenant & Adjutant · Army Civil War · 1865 Henry Clay Warfel Private · Army Civil War · 1865 William Henry Mathews First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 James H. Harris Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 AT Alexander H. Truett Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1864 TJ Thomas Jones Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1865
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.