Private John Shivers, a Marine in the U.S. Marine Corps, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on January 15, 1865 at Fort Fisher, North Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Minnesota. Shivers was about 35 years old.
30 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Shivers was born in 1830 in Canada — one of 60 recipients born in Canada. His Medal of Honor is credited to New Jersey.
Shivers is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 93 credited to New Jersey.
Official Medal of Honor citation
On board the U.S.S. Minnesota, in the assault on Fort Fisher, 15 January 1865. Landing on the beach with the assaulting party from his ship, Pvt. Shivers advanced to the top of the sandhill and partly through the breach in the palisades despite enemy fire which killed or wounded many officers and men. When more than two-thirds of the men became seized with panic and retreated on the run, he remained with the party until dark when it came safely away, bringing its wounded, its arms, and its colors.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
- Born: Canada — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New Jersey →
Timeline
- 1830Born in Canada
- January 15, 1865Act of valor — Fort Fisher, North CarolinaAge about 35. U.S.S. Minnesota
Biography
John Shivers (c. 1830 – unknown) was a U.S. Marine stationed aboard the USS Minnesota 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 Shivers (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
