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Seaman · U.S. Navy

Edward W. Hathaway

Seaman Edward W. Hathaway, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on June 28, 1862 near Vicksburg, Mississippi during the Civil War.

Seaman Edward W. Hathaway was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on June 28, 1862 near Vicksburg, Mississippi during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Sciota. Hathaway was 22 years old.

Hathaway was born on July 9, 1839 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. Hathaway died on April 6, 1916 in Salem, Massachusetts, at the age of 76. He is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett, Massachusetts.

Hathaway 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. Sciota prior to the battle of Vicksburg, 28 June 1862. Struck by a bullet which severed his left arm above the elbow, Hathaway displayed exceptional courage as his ship sustained numerous damaging hits from stem to stern while proceeding down the river to fight the battle of Vicksburg.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Plymouth — map
  • Buried: Everett — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →

Timeline

  1. July 9, 1839
    Born in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts
  2. June 28, 1862
    Act of valor — near Vicksburg, Mississippi
    Age 22. U.S.S. Sciota
  3. April 6, 1916
    Died in Salem, Massachusetts
    Age 76.
  4. Resting place
    Woodlawn Cemetery
    Everett, Massachusetts

Biography

Edward W. Hathaway (July 9, 1839 – April 6, 1916) was a Union Navy sailor in the American Civil War who received the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor. Born on July 9, 1839, in Plymouth, Massachusetts, Hathaway was still living in that city when he joined the Navy. He served during the Civil War as a seaman on the USS Sciota. On June 28, 1862, Sciota was heading down the Mississippi River to participate in an attack on Vicksburg when it came under heavy fire. Hathaway "displayed exceptional courage" after being severely wounded. For this action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor five years later on October 3, 1867.

From the Wikipedia article “Edward W. Hathaway”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

More Civil War recipients from Massachusetts

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.