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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Seaman · U.S. Navy

Edward Swatton

Seaman Edward Swatton, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on January 15, 1865 at Fort Fisher, North Carolina during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War January 15, 1865

Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Seaman Edward Swatton received the Medal of Honor for his actions on January 15, 1865 at Fort Fisher, North Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Santiago de Cuba. Swatton was about 29 years old.

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

Swatton was born in 1836 in New York, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. His medal is held by Naval Historical Center, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC.

Swatton is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 265 credited to Massachusetts.

Official Medal of Honor citation

On board the U.S.S. Santiago de Cuba during the assault on Fort Fisher on 15 January 1865. As one of a boat crew detailed to one of the generals onshore, Swatton bravely entered the fort in the assault and accompanied his party in carrying dispatches at the height of the battle. He was one of six men who entered the fort in the assault from the fleet.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: New York — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →

Timeline

  1. 1836
    Born in New York, New York
  2. January 15, 1865
    Act of valor — Fort Fisher, North Carolina
    Age about 29. U.S.S. Santiago de Cuba

Biography

Edward Swatton (c. 1836 – 1865) was a sailor in the U.S. Navy stationed aboard the USS Santiago de Cuba (1861) 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 “Edward Swatton”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on January 15, 1865

BA Bruce Anderson Private · Army Civil War · 1865 GB Gurdon H. Barter Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1865 DB David L. Bass Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 PB Philip Bazaar Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 AB Albert Burton Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 Alaric B. Chapin Private · Army Civil War · 1865 TC Thomas Connor Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 Newton Martin Curtis Brigadier General · Army Civil War · 1865 William Henry Freeman Private · Army Civil War · 1865 JG John Griffiths Captain of the Forecastle · Navy Civil War · 1865 TH Thomas Harcourt Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 TK Thomas Kane Captain of the Hold · Navy Civil War · 1865

See all 31 recipients for January 15, 1865 →

More Civil War recipients from Massachusetts

Daniel Dickerson Stevens Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1865 TH Thomas W. Hamilton Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1863 DM Daniel J. Murphy Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 John Michael Tobin First Lieutenant & Adjutant · Army Civil War · 1862 Charles H. Pinkham Sergeant Major · Army Civil War · 1865 JB James Barnum Boatswain's Mate · 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.