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Pocasset Cemetery

Born:  1831 at Providence, RI

Entered Service in the US Navy from Rhode Island

Earned The Medal of Honor During the Civil War For heroism August 05, 1864 at Mobile Bay, Fort Morgan, AL

On August 5, Union Admiral David Farragut's Union fleet of eighteen ships entered Mobile Bay, Alabama, and received a devastating fire from Forts Gaines and Morgan and other points. His wooden ships fought valiantly under this devastating fire as well as shells from the rebel gunboats and the ironclad ram Tennessee. After passing the forts, Farragut forced the Confederate naval forces under Admiral Buchanan, to surrender, along with the prized ram Tennessee. Fort Morgan was destroyed and this action effectively closed Mobile Bay as a Confederate port, making the action one of the greatest Naval victories of the war. Ninety sailors and eight Marines were awarded Medals of Honor, the most for any single day in history. Twelve crewmen of the U.S.S. Lackawanna were numbered among these heroes, including Captain of the Top John Edwards, who served as second captain of a gun. Wounded when an enemy shell struck, Captain of the Top Edwards refused to go below for aid and, as heavy return fire continued to strike his vessel, took the place of the first captain and carried out his duties during the prolonged action.