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Coxswain · U.S. Navy

James B. Chandler

Coxswain James B. Chandler, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on August 5, 1864 at Mobile Bay, Alabama during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War August 5, 1864

Coxswain James B. Chandler was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on August 5, 1864 at Mobile Bay, Alabama during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Richmond. Chandler was 26 years old.

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

Chandler was born on October 6, 1837 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. His Medal of Honor is credited to Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. Chandler died on July 12, 1899 in Taunton, Massachusetts, at the age of 61. He is buried at Vine Hill Cemetery in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Records also list him as Chandler, John B..

Chandler 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. Richmond during action against rebel forts and gunboats and against the ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. Cool and courageous although he had just come off the sick list, Chandler rendered gallant service throughout the prolonged action as his ship maintained accurate fire against Fort Morgan and ships of the Confederacy despite extremely heavy return fire. He participated in the actions at Forts Jackson and St. Philip, with the Chalmette batteries, at the surrender of New Orleans and in the attacks on batteries below Vicksburg.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Plymouth — map
  • Buried: Vine Hills Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →

Timeline

  1. October 6, 1837
    Born in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts
  2. August 5, 1864
    Act of valor — Mobile Bay, Alabama
    Age 26. U.S.S. Richmond
  3. July 12, 1899
    Died in Taunton, Massachusetts
    Age 61.
  4. Resting place
    Vine Hill Cemetery
    Plymouth, Massachusetts

Biography

James B. Chandler (October 6, 1837 – July 12, 1899) 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 at the Battle of Mobile Bay. Chandler was born on October 6, 1837, in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Joined the Navy from Boston in November 1861 for 3 years, and served during the Civil War as a coxswain on the USS Richmond. In the April 1862 Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip, Richmond fought Confederate ships in the Mississippi and passed artillery batteries at Chalmette, Louisiana, leading to the capture of New Orleans.

From the Wikipedia article “James B. Chandler”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on August 5, 1864

TA Thomas E. Atkinson Yeoman · Navy Civil War · 1864 JA James Avery Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864 CB Charles Baker Quarter Gunner · Navy Civil War · 1864 WB William Blagheen Ship's Cook · Navy Civil War · 1864 JB John Brazell Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1864 JB John Brown Captain of the Forecastle · Navy Civil War · 1864 RB Robert Brown Captain of the Top · Navy Civil War · 1864 WB William H. Brown Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1864 WB Wilson Brown Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1864 JB John M. Burns Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864 WC William M. Carr Master-at-Arms · Navy Civil War · 1864 MC Michael Cassidy Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1864

See all 98 recipients for August 5, 1864 →

Same unit

JH John S. Hickman Second Class Fireman · Navy Civil War · 1863 MM Matthew McClelland First Class Fireman · Navy Civil War · 1863 TM Thomas Mitchell Landsman · Navy Interim 1871–1899 · 1879 JR John Rush First Class Fireman · Navy Civil War · 1863 Joseph E. Vantine First Class Fireman · Navy Civil War · 1863

More Civil War recipients from Massachusetts

Carlos H. Rich First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 John Darling Terry Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1862 JM James Miller Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1863 William Lord Musician · Army Civil War · 1864 Alphonso M. Lunt Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 MH Moses Harris First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864
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.