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Landsman · U.S. Navy

John S. Lann

Landsman John S. Lann, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions between March 5 and 6, 1865 in St. Marks, Florida during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War March 5 - 6, 1865

Landsman John S. Lann was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions between March 5 and 6, 1865 in St. Marks, Florida during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Magnolia. Lann was 21 years old.

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

Lann was born on August 29, 1843 in Rochester, Monroe County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York, New York. Lann died on April 13, 1907, at the age of 63. He is buried at Yankton Municipal Cemetery in Yankton, South Dakota. Records also list him as Lanning, John S..

Lann is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 678 credited to New York.

Official Medal of Honor citation

As landsman on board the U.S.S. Magnolia, St. Marks, Fla., 5 and 6 March, Lann served with the Army in charge of the Navy howitzers during the attack on St. Marks and throughout this fierce engagement made remarkable efforts in assisting transport of the gun. His coolness and determination in standing by his gun while under fire of the enemy were a credit to the service to which he belonged.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Rochester — map
  • Buried: Yankton Municipal Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. August 29, 1843
    Born in Rochester, Monroe County, New York
  2. March 5 - 6, 1865
    Act of valor — St. Marks, Florida
    Age 21. U.S.S. Magnolia
  3. April 13, 1907
    Died
    Age 63.
  4. Resting place
    Yankton Municipal Cemetery
    Yankton, South Dakota

Biography

John S. Lanning (August 29, 1843 – April 13, 1907) was a Union Navy sailor and a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions in the American Civil War. He served under the name John S. Lann. Born on August 29, 1843, in Rochester, New York, Lanning enlisted in the 1st New York Independent Battery Light Artillery (July 1861) and served with said Battery until the battle of Antietam (Sept. 1862). He was seriously injured in this battle and eventually sent home. When he was recovered he tried to return to his group but was told that he was done, go home. So he joined the Navy under the name John S. Lann, from that state. By March 5, 1865, he was serving as a landsman on the USS Magnolia.

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

Also honored for actions on March 5 - 6, 1865

RB Richard Boury Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 JM John Mack Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 GS George Schutt Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1865 TS Thomas Smith Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865

Same unit

GP George Pyne Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 CR Charles Read Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865

More Civil War recipients from New York

JS John Smith Second Captain of the Top · Navy Civil War · 1864 GB Gurdon H. Barter Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1865 WL William Laing Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 ✦ MC Martin Conboy First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1862 TI Thomas Irving Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1863 Archibald Freeman 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.