John Lawson Medal of Honor Profile

NAME:  Lawson, John
BIRTH: PLACE Philadelphia , Pennsylvania
AGE: 26
COMPLEXION: Mulatto
OCCUPATION: Laborer
HEIGHT: 5' 8"
BRANCH: Navy
ENLISTMENT PLACE: New York
ENLISTMENT DATE:  Dec 3, 1863
TERM OF ENLISTMENT: 1
RATING: Landsman
DETAILED MUSTER RECORDS:
        Date ,      Vessel

• Mar 31, 1864 Hartford 
• Sep 30, 1864 Hartford 
• Jan 1, 1864 Hartford 

 Date of action : Aug 5, 1864

 Citation:
 On board the flagship U.S.S. Hartford during successful attacks against Fort Morgan, rebel gunboats and the ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay on 5 August 1864. Wounded in the leg and thrown violently against the side of the ship when an enemy shell killed or wounded the 6-man crew as the shell whipped on the berth deck, Lawson, upon regaining his composure, promptly returned to his station and, although urged to go below for treatment, steadfastly continued his duties throughout the remainder of the action.

Attributions:

• Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Database
• Home of Heroes
• Wikipedia
• Civil War Trust

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Two hundred forty years ago, Lord Dunmore, the governor of Virginia issued a proclamation manumitting slaves and bondsmen whose master was in rebellion against the Crown*. Clinton and other British officials would declare this policy with the purpose of denying the rebellion a labor force, fomenting servile insurrection, and inflicting economic loss. Thousands of freedom seeking blacks would make their way to British commands to enlist, dwarfing the approximately 5000 that   fought for the colonial forces.

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