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Captain of the Forecastle · U.S. Navy

William Garvin

Captain of the Forecastle William Garvin, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on December 23, 1864 at Fort Fisher, North Carolina during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War December 23, 1864Born in Canada

Captain of the Forecastle William Garvin, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on December 23, 1864 at Fort Fisher, North Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Agawam. Garvin was about 29 years old.

8 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. He later rose to the rank of Boatswain's Mate.

Garvin was born in 1835 in Canada West — one of 60 recipients born in Canada. His Medal of Honor is credited to Plymouth, Litchfield County, Connecticut.

Garvin 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

Garvin 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 assure 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.

Battles and campaigns

1864 · Civil War

First Battle of Fort Fisher

Result: Confederate victory

3 Medal of Honor recipients

Places

  • Born: Canada — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Connecticut →

Timeline

  1. 1835
    Born in Canada West
  2. December 23, 1864
    Act of valor — Fort Fisher, North Carolina
    Age about 29. U.S.S. Agawam

Biography

William Garvin (born 1835) was an American sailor who fought in the American Civil War. Garvin received his country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor. Garvin's medal was won for his actions during the First Battle of Fort Fisher on board the U.S.S. Agawam. He was posthumously honored with the award on December 31, 1864. Garvin was from British North America and entered the American military in Plymouth, Connecticut. Garvin was one of 30 Canadians to win the Medal of Honor.

From the Wikipedia article “William Garvin (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on December 23, 1864

CB Charles James Bibber Gunner's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1864 DC Dennis Conlan Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864 CH Charles Hawkins Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864 WH William Hinnegan Second Class Fireman · Navy Civil War · 1864 RM Robert William Montgomery Captain of the Afterguard · Navy Civil War · 1864 JN John Neil Quarter Gunner · Navy Civil War · 1864 CR Charles Rice Coal Heaver · Navy Civil War · 1864 JR James Roberts Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864

Same unit

JS James Sullivan Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864

More Civil War recipients from Connecticut

FB Frederick Clarence Buck Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 EB Elijah A. Briggs Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 Robert A. Gray Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 William B. Hincks Sergeant Major · Army Civil War · 1863 GW George C. Williams Quartermaster Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1862 Charles H. Marsh 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.