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Landsman · U.S. Navy

William Pelham

Landsman William Pelham, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on August 5, 1864 at Mobile Bay, Alabama during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War August 5, 1864Born in Canada

Landsman William Pelham was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on August 5, 1864 at Mobile Bay, Alabama during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Hartford. Pelham was 16 years old.

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

Pelham was born on December 8, 1847 in Halifax, Canada — one of 60 recipients born in Canada. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York, New York. Pelham died on March 30, 1933 in Brooklyn, New York, at the age of 85. He is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York. His medal is held by Naval Historical Center, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC.

Pelham 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

On board the flagship U.S.S. Hartford, during successful actions against Fort Morgan, rebel gunboats and the ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. When other members of his crewgun were killed or wounded under the enemy's terrific shellfire, Pelham calmly assisted the casualties below and voluntarily returned and took his place at an adjoining gun where another man had been struck down. He continued to fight his gun throughout the remainder of the battle which resulted in the capture of the Tennessee.

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

Timeline

  1. December 8, 1847
    Born in Halifax, Canada
  2. August 5, 1864
    Act of valor — Mobile Bay, Alabama
    Age 16. U.S.S. Hartford
  3. March 30, 1933
    Died in Brooklyn, New York
    Age 85.
  4. Resting place
    Holy Cross Cemetery
    Brooklyn, New York

Further reading

Also honored for actions on August 5, 1864

TA Thomas E. Atkinson Yeoman · Navy Civil War · 1864 JA James Avery Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864 CB Charles Baker Quarter Gunner · Navy Civil War · 1864 WB William Blagheen Ship's Cook · Navy Civil War · 1864 JB John Brazell Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1864 JB John Brown Captain of the Forecastle · Navy Civil War · 1864 RB Robert Brown Captain of the Top · Navy Civil War · 1864 WB William H. Brown Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1864 WB Wilson Brown Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1864 JB John M. Burns Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864 WC William M. Carr Master-at-Arms · Navy Civil War · 1864 MC Michael Cassidy Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1864

See all 98 recipients for August 5, 1864 →

Same unit

JC John Costello Ordinary Seaman · Navy Interim 1871–1899 · 1876 RR Richard Ryan Ordinary Seaman · Navy Interim 1871–1899 · 1876

More Civil War recipients from New York

JT James Granville Thompson Private · Army Civil War · 1865 John Cleveland Robinson Brigadier General · Army Civil War · 1864 Archibald Freeman Private · Army Civil War · 1864 PO Peter O'Brien Private · Army Civil War · 1865 AB August Frederick Bronner Private · Army Civil War · 1862 JK John Kaiser First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1862
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.