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Quarter Gunner · U.S. Navy

Charles Asten

Quarter Gunner Charles Asten, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on May 5, 1864 at Red River, Louisiana during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War May 5, 1864Born in Canada

Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Quarter Gunner Charles Asten received the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 5, 1864 at Red River, Louisiana during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Signal. Asten was about 30 years old.

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

Asten was born in 1834 in Halifax, Canada — one of 60 recipients born in Canada. His Medal of Honor is credited to Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Asten died on September 14, 1885 in Providence, Rhode Island, at the age of about 51. He is buried at St. Francis Cemetery in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Records also list him as Asten, Michael.

Asten is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 210 credited to Illinois.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Served on board the U.S.S. Signal, Red River, 5 May 1864. Proceeding up the Red River, the U.S.S. Signal engaged a large force of enemy field batteries and sharpshooters, returning their fire until the Federal ship was totally disabled, at which time the white flag was raised. Although on the sick list, Q.G. Asten courageously carried out his duties during the entire engagement.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Halifax — map
  • Died: Halifax — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Illinois →

Timeline

  1. 1834
    Born in Halifax, Canada
  2. May 5, 1864
    Act of valor — Red River, Louisiana
    Age about 30. U.S.S. Signal
  3. September 14, 1885
    Died in Providence, Rhode Island
    Age about 51.
  4. Resting place
    St. Francis Cemetery
    Pawtucket, Rhode Island

Biography

Charles Asten (born Michael Charles Asten, but served under his middle name) (September 14, 1834 – September 14, 1885) was a Quarter Gunner in the United States Navy during the American Civil War. Asten was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in September 1834, and he entered the United States Navy in Chicago, Illinois, during the Civil War. In 1864, he served aboard USS Signal, a U.S. tinclad, during the Red River Campaign.

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

Also honored for actions on May 5, 1864

Abram J. Buckles Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 GB George Butts Gunner's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1864 JE James Robert Evans Private · Army Civil War · 1864 Peter Grace Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 JH John Hyland Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864 MM Michael McCormick Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1864 Charles E. Morse Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 TO Timothy O'Donoghue Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864 JO John N. Opel Private · Army Civil War · 1864 John Henry Patterson First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864 Carlos H. Rich First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 Jacob E. Swap Private · Army Civil War · 1864

See all 14 recipients for May 5, 1864 →

More Civil War recipients from Illinois

GM George Marsh Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 TM Thomas C. Murphy Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 John Mcgreath Farquhar Sergeant Major · Army Civil War · 1862 WM Wilbur F. Moore Private · Army Civil War · 1864 WP Wesley James Powers Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 William W. Fraser 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.