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Coal Heaver · U.S. Navy

James E. Sterling

Coal Heaver James E. Sterling, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on August 5, 1864 at Fort Morgan, Mobile Bay, Alabama during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War August 5, 1864

Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Coal Heaver James E. Sterling received the Medal of Honor for his actions on August 5, 1864 at Fort Morgan, Mobile Bay, Alabama during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Brooklyn. Sterling was about 26 years old.

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

Sterling was born in 1838 in Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Maryland. Sterling died on December 12, 1900 in Baltimore, Maryland, at the age of about 62. He is buried at Western Cemetery in Baltimore, Maryland.

Sterling is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 85 credited to Maryland.

★ Wounded but Fought On

Official Medal of Honor citation

On board the U.S.S. Brooklyn during successful attacks against Fort Morgan, rebel gunboats and the ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. Although wounded when heavy enemy return-fire raked the decks of his ship, Sterling courageously remained at his post and continued passing shell until struck down a second time and completely disabled.

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

Wounds and injuries

What the citation records about his wounds:

Although wounded when heavy enemy return-fire raked the decks of his ship, Sterling courageously remained at his post and continued passing shell until struck down a second time and completely disabled.
  • Age at death: about 62
  • Resting place: Western Cemetery

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Baltimore — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Maryland →

Timeline

  1. 1838
    Born in Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland
  2. August 5, 1864
    Act of valor — Fort Morgan, Mobile Bay, Alabama
    Age about 26. U.S.S. Brooklyn
  3. December 12, 1900
    Died in Baltimore, Maryland
    Age about 62.
  4. Resting place
    Western Cemetery
    Baltimore, Maryland

Biography

James E. Sterling (born 1838, date of death unknown) 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.

From the Wikipedia article “James E. Sterling”, 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

JB James Buck Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1862 HM Harry Lewis MacNeal Private · Marine Corps Spanish-American War · 1898

More Civil War recipients from Maryland

CM Charles W. Morton Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1863 Benjamin Swearer Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1861 George Schneider Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 WM William H. Myers Private · Army Civil War · 1865 AM Andrew Jackson McGonnigle Captain & Assistant Quartermaster · Army Civil War · 1864 JC Joseph Franklin Carter Captain · Army 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.