Richard Hamilton (sailor)

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Richard Hamilton
January 23, 1825(1825-01-23)January 20, 1922 (aged 96)
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Richard Hamilton, Medal of Honor recipient
Place of birth Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Place of death Camden, New Jersey
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Navy
Unit U.S. Picket Boat No. 1
Battles/wars American Civil War
Awards Medal of Honor

Richard Hamilton (January 23, 1836January 20, 1881), a naval coal heaver, received the Medal of Honor for bravery during the American Civil War.

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[edit] Biography

Hamilton, a native of , was taken prisoner after the explosion, survived the war, and died in Camden, New Jersey on July 6, 1881.

[edit] Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Coal Heaver, U.S. Navy. Born: 1836, Philadelphia, Pa. Accredited to: Pennsylvania G.O. No.: 45, 31 December 1864.

Citation:

Hamilton served on board the U.S. Picket Boat No. 1, in action, 27 October 1864, against the Confederate ram Albemarle which had resisted repeated attacks by our steamers and had kept a large force of vessels employed in watching her. The picket boat, equipped with a spar torpedo, succeeded in passing the enemy pickets within 20 yards without being discovered and then made for the Albemarle under a full head of steam. Immediately taken under fire by the ram, the small boat plunged on, jumped the log boom which encircled the target and exploded its torpedo under the port bow of the ram. The picket boat was destroyed by enemy fire and almost the entire crew taken prisoner or lost.

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