Boatswain's Mate Charles Robinson, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry between December 23 and 27, 1862 at Yazoo River, Mississippi during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Baron De Kalb. Robinson was about 22 years old.
4 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Robinson was born in 1840 in Dundee, Scotland — one of 41 recipients born in Scotland. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York, New York. Robinson died on April 21, 1896 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, at the age of about 56. He is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Halifax, Canada. His medal is held by Naval Historical Center, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC.
Robinson 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
Served on board the U.S.S. Baron de Kalb Yazoo River Expedition, 23 to 27 December 1862. Proceeding under orders up the Yazoo River, the U.S.S. Baron de Kalb, with the object of capturing or destroying the enemy's transports, came upon the steamers John Walsh, R.J. Locklan, Golden Age, and the Scotland sunk on a bar where they were ordered fired. Continuing up the river, she was fired on by the enemy, but upon returning the fire, caused the rebels to retreat. Returning down the Yazoo, she destroyed and captured large quantities of enemy equipment and several prisoners. Serving bravely throughout this action, Robinson, as boatswain's mate, "distinguished himself in the various actions."
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
Timeline
- 1840Born in Dundee, Scotland
- December 23 - 27, 1862Act of valor — Yazoo River, MississippiAge about 22. U.S.S. Baron De Kalb
- April 21, 1896Died in Halifax, Nova Scotia, CanadaAge about 56.
- Resting placeHoly Cross CemeteryHalifax
Biography
Charles Robinson (1840 – 21 April 1896) was a Union Navy sailor in the American Civil War and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during an expedition on the Yazoo River. Born in 1840 in Dundee, Scotland, Robinson moved to the United States and was living in New York City when he joined the U.S. Navy. During the Civil War, he served as a boatswain's mate on the USS Baron DeKalb. From 23 to 27 December 1862, he "distinguished himself in the various actions" as his ship took part in an expedition up the Yazoo River in Mississippi. For this action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor months later on 3 April 1863.
From the Wikipedia article “Charles Robinson (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
