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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Fireman · U.S. Navy

John Lafferty

Fireman John Lafferty, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on May 25, 1864 at Roanoke River, North Carolina during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War May 25, 1864

Fireman John Lafferty was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 25, 1864 at Roanoke River, North Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Wyalusing. Lafferty was about 22 years old.

4 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on March 14, 1865. He later rose to the rank of First Class Fireman.

Lafferty was born in 1842 in New York, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to Pennsylvania. Lafferty died on November 13, 1903 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the age of about 61. He is buried at Mount Moriah in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Records also list him as Laverty, John.

Lafferty is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.

Official Medal of Honor citation

First Award Served on board the U.S.S. Wyalusing and participated in a plan to destroy the rebel ram Abemarle in Roanoke River, 25 May 1864. Volunteering for the hazardous mission, Lafferty participated in the transfer of two torpedoes across an island swamp and then served as sentry to keep guard of clothes and arms left by other members of the party. After being rejoined by others of the party who had been discovered before the plan could be completed, Lafferty succeeded in returning to the mother ship after spending 24 hours of discomfort in the rain and swamp.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: County Tyrone — map
  • Buried: Mount Moriah Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →

Timeline

  1. 1842
    Born in New York, New York
  2. May 25, 1864
    Act of valor — Roanoke River, North Carolina
    Age about 22. U.S.S. Wyalusing
  3. March 14, 1865
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. November 13, 1903
    Died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    Age about 61.
  5. Resting place
    Mount Moriah
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Biography

John Lafferty or Laverty (June 19, 1842 – November 13, 1903) was a sailor in the U.S. Navy during the American Civil War and is one of only 19 people in history to receive the Medal of Honor twice.

From the Wikipedia article “John Lafferty”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on May 25, 1864

CB Charles H. Baldwin Coal Heaver · Navy Civil War · 1864 AC Alexander Crawford Fireman · Navy Civil War · 1864 BL Benjamin Lloyd Coal Heaver · Navy Civil War · 1864 JL John W. Lloyd Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1864

More Civil War recipients from Pennsylvania

JS John Hamilton reid Storey Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 JD John P. Donaldson Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 CB Charles Blucher Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 JK John Kinsey Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 Dewitt Clinton Lewis Captain · Army Civil War · 1862 Jacob E. Swap Private · 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.