Veteran in crisis? Dial 988 then press 1 · Text 838255 Next observance: Navy Birthday · October 13
Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Captain of the Forecastle · U.S. Navy

John Griffiths

Captain of the Forecastle John Griffiths, 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, 1865Born in Wales

Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Captain of the Forecastle John Griffiths 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. Griffiths was about 30 years old.

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

Griffiths was born in 1835 in Wales — one of 8 recipients born in Wales. His Medal of Honor is credited to Massachusetts. He is buried at Sailors Home Cemetery in Quincy, Massachusetts. His medal is held by Naval Historical Center, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC. Records also list him as Griffith, John.

Griffiths 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, 15 January 1865. As one of a boatcrew detailed to one of the generals onshore, Griffiths bravely entered the fort in the assault and accompanied his party in carrying dispatches at the height of the battle. He was one of the 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: Wales — map
  • Died: Massachusetts — map
  • Buried: Sailors Home Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →

Timeline

  1. 1835
    Born in Wales
  2. January 15, 1865
    Act of valor — Fort Fisher, North Carolina
    Age about 30. U.S.S. Santiago de Cuba
  3. Resting place
    Sailors Home Cemetery
    Quincy, Massachusetts

Biography

John Griffiths (born 1835) was a sailor in the U.S. Navy 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 “John Griffiths (Medal of Honor)”, 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 TH Thomas Harcourt Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 TK Thomas Kane Captain of the Hold · Navy Civil War · 1865 GM George Merrill Private · Army Civil War · 1865

See all 31 recipients for January 15, 1865 →

More Civil War recipients from Massachusetts

MA Matthew Arther Signal Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1862 TA Thomas E. Atkinson Yeoman · Navy Civil War · 1864 RD Richard Dennis Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1864 CH Conrad Homan Color Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 William Harvey Carney Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 WS William A. Stanley Shell Man · Navy 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.