Quarter Gunner Edmund Haffee, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry between January 13 and 15, 1865 at Fort Fisher, North Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. New Ironsides. Haffee was about 33 years old.
16 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Haffee was born in 1832 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. His medal is held by Naval Historical Center, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC.
Haffee 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
Haffee served on board the U.S.S. New Ironsides during action in several attacks on Fort Fisher, 24 and 25 December 1864; and 13, 14, and 15 January 1865. The ship steamed in and took the lead in the ironclad division close inshore, and immediately opened its starboard battery in a barrage of well-directed fire to cause several fires and explosions and dismount several guns during the first two days of fighting. Taken under fire, as she steamed into position on 13 January, the New Ironsides fought all day and took on ammunition at night despite severe weather conditions. When the enemy came out of his bombproof to defend the fort against the storming party, the ship's battery disabled nearly every gun on the fort facing the shore before the cease-fire orders were given by the flagship.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
- Born: Philadelphia — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →
Timeline
- 1832Born in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
- January 13 - 15, 1865Act of valor — Fort Fisher, North CarolinaAge about 33. U.S.S. New Ironsides
Biography
Edmund Haffee (c. 1832 – unknown) was a sailor in the U.S. Navy during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Second Battle of Fort Fisher on January 15, 1865.
From the Wikipedia article “Edmund Haffee”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

