Alexander Crawford

Alexander Crawford (1842 – 17 March 1886) was a sailor in the United States Navy who served in the American Civil War. He was awarded a Medal of Honor for his actions during the war.

Biography

Alexander Crawford was born in 1842 in Pennsylvania. He served as a fireman on the USS Wyalusing during the Civil War. On May 25, 1864, while the Wyalusing was sailing the Roanoke River, Crawford and fellow crewmembers Charles H. Baldwin, John Lafferty, Benjamin Lloyd, and John W. Lloyd voluntereed for a mission to destroy the Confederate ironclad CSS Albermarle. The mission failed, but the men evaded capture and eventually made it back to the Wyalusing. For their actions, the five men were each awarded the Medal of Honor. Alexander Crawford died on 17 March 1886 and was buried in Cedar Hills Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Medal of Honor

Alexander Crawford's official Medal of Honor citation is as follows:

On board the U.S.S. Wyalusing, Crawford volunteered 25 May 1864, in a night attempt to destroy the rebel ram Albemarle in the Roanoke River. Taking part in a plan to explode the rebel ram Albemarle, Crawford executed his part in the plan with perfection, but upon being discovered, was forced to abandon the plan and retire leaving no trace of the evidence. After spending two hazardous days and nights without food, he gained the safety of a friendly ship and was then transferred back to the Wyalusing. Though the plan failed his skill and courage in preventing detection were an example of unfailing devotion to duty.

See also

• List of Medal of Honor recipients
• List of Medal of Honor recipients: Civil War A-L
• List of military decorations

References

• Find a Grave (2003-02-27). Alexander Crawford (1842 - 1886). Retrieved on 2006-08-18.
• U.S. Army Center of Military History (2005-04-27). Civil War Medal of Honor Recipients - (A-L). Retrieved on 2006-08-18.