Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Seaman James Roberts received the Medal of Honor for his actions on December 23, 1864 at Fort Fisher, North Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Agawam. Roberts was 27 years old.
8 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on May 12, 1865. Off New Bern, NC, on board the U.S.S. Agawam.
Roberts was born on February 14, 1837 in England — one of 98 recipients born in England. His Medal of Honor is credited to Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut. Roberts died on October 19, 1908 in Bath, New York, at the age of 71. He is buried at Bath National Cemetery in Bath, New York.
Roberts is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 57 credited to Connecticut.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Roberts served on board the U.S.S. Agawam, as one of a volunteer crew of a powder boat which was exploded near Fort Fisher, 23 December 1864. The powder boat, towed in by the Wilderness to prevent detection by the enemy, cast off and slowly steamed to within 300 yards of the beach. After fuses and fires had been lit and a second anchor with short scope let go to insure the boat's tailing inshore, the crew again boarded the Wilderness and proceeded a distance of 12 miles from shore. Less than two hours later the explosion took place, and the following day fires were observed still burning at the fort.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Timeline
- February 14, 1837Born in England
- December 23, 1864Act of valor — Fort Fisher, North CarolinaAge 27. U.S.S. Agawam
- May 12, 1865Medal of Honor presentedoff New Bern, NC, on board the U.S.S. Agawam
- October 19, 1908Died in Bath, New YorkAge 71.
- Resting placeBath National CemeteryBath, New York
Biography
James Roberts (born 14 February 1837) was a seaman of the United States Navy who was awarded the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the American Civil War. He was born in England in 1837 and lived in Hartford, Connecticut. On 23 December 1864, while serving aboard the USS Agawam, he volunteered to help guide a fire ship towed by the USS Wilderness to the vicinity of the Confederate-held Fort Fisher in North Carolina. The explosion of the fire ship caused significant fires in Fort Fisher for at least one day. Roberts was awarded the Medal of Honor for this action on 31 December 1864.
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