| James Seanor | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1833 Boston, Massachusetts |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ | United States Navy |
| Rank | Master-at-Arms |
| Unit | USS Vincennes USS Chickasaw |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War • Battle of Mobile Bay |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
James Seanor (born 1833, date of death unknown) was a Master-at-Arms in the Union Navy who served during the American Civil War and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions at the Battle of Mobile Bay.
The Union Navy was the United States Navy (USN) during the American Civil War, when it fought the Confederate States Navy (CSN). The term is sometimes used carelessly to include vessels of war used on the rivers of the interior while they were under the control of the United States Army, also called the Union Army.
The American Civil War was a war fought in the United States from 1861 to 1865, between the North and the South. The Civil War is the most studied and written about episode in U.S. history. Primarily as a result of the long-standing controversy over the enslavement of black people, war broke out in April 1861 when secessionist forces attacked Fort Sumter in South Carolina shortly after Abraham Lincoln had been inaugurated as the President of the United States. The loyalists of the Union in the North proclaimed support for the Constitution. They faced secessionists of the Confederate States in the South, who advocated for states' rights to uphold slavery.
The Medal of Honor is the United States of America's highest and most prestigious personal military decoration that may be awarded to recognize U.S. military service members who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. The medal is normally awarded by the President of the United States in the name of the U.S. Congress. Because the medal is presented "in the name of Congress", it is often referred to informally as the "Congressional Medal of Honor". However, the official name of the current award is "Medal of Honor." Within the United States Code the medal is referred to as the "Medal of Honor", and less frequently as "Congressional Medal of Honor". U.S. awards, including the Medal of Honor, do not have post-nominal titles, and while there is no official abbreviation, the most common abbreviations are "MOH" and "MH".
Born in 1833 in Boston, Massachusetts, Seanor was living in New York when he joined the Navy. He served during the Civil War as a master-at-arms on the USS Vincennes. Although their enlistments had expired, Seanor and crewmate Andrew Jones voluntarily transferred to the USS Chickasaw to fight in the Battle of Mobile Bay on August 5, 1864, during which they "carried out [their] duties gallantly". For this action, both Seanor and Jones were awarded the Medal of Honor four months later, on December 31, 1864. [1] [2]
A Master-at-Arms may be a naval rating, responsible for law enforcement, regulating duties, security, Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection (AT/FP); an army officer responsible for physical training; or a member of the crew of a merchant ship responsible for security and law enforcement. In some navies, a "ship's corporal" is a position—not the rank—of a petty officer who assists the master-at-arms in his various duties.
USS Vincennes (1826) was a 703-ton Boston-class sloop of war in the United States Navy from 1826 to 1865. During her service, Vincennes patrolled the Pacific, explored the Antarctic, and blockaded the Confederate Gulf coast in the Civil War. Named for the Revolutionary War Battle of Vincennes, she was the first U.S. warship to circumnavigate the globe.
Andrew Jones was a Union Navy sailor in the American Civil War and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions at the Battle of Mobile Bay.
Seanor's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
Served as Master-at-Arms on board the U.S. Ironclad Chickasaw, Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. Although his enlistment was up, Seanor volunteered for the battle of Mobile Bay, going on board the Chickasaw from the Vincennes where he carried out his duties gallantly throughout the engagement which resulted in the capture of the rebel ram Tennessee . [2]
Seanor later served on the USS Guerriere (1865), and deserted on Christmas Day 1868 when the ship was visiting Montevideo. [3]
The second USS Guerriere was a frigate in the United States Navy. She was named for the victory of the frigate USS Constitution over HMS Guerriere during the War of 1812.
Montevideo is the capital and largest city of Uruguay. According to the 2011 census, the city proper has a population of 1,319,108 in an area of 201 square kilometres (78 sq mi). The southernmost capital city in the Americas, Montevideo is situated on the southern coast of the country, on the northeastern bank of the Río de la Plata.
