USS Wilderness was a wooden-hulled, side-wheel steamship in the United States Navy during the American Civil War. After the war, she served as a revenue cutter. In 1873, she was renamed John A. Dix for former Secretary of the Treasury John Adams Dix.
James Avery was an American Civil War Union Navy sailor who received the Medal of Honor while serving aboard USS Metacomet.
Seaman Philip Bazaar, born in Chile, South America, was a United States Navy seaman who was awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration of the United States for valor in combat. According to the citation he distinguished himself during the battle for Fort Fisher of the American Civil War.
John Harris was a Union Navy sailor who received the Medal of Honor for his service on USS Metacomet in Mobile Bay during the American Civil War.
William H. Brown was a United States Navy sailor during the American Civil War and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor.
George W. Leland 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 helping to free his grounded ship.
Michael C. Horgan was a Union Navy sailor in the American Civil War who served under the alias Martin Howard. He received the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the capture of Plymouth, North Carolina.
John Griffiths was a sailor in the U.S. Navy during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Second Battle of Fort Fisher on January 15, 1865.
William Blagheen, also known as William Blagden, 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.
Louis G. Chaput 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.
Charles Baker, also known as Henry Baker, 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.
John C. Donnelly (1839–1895) 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.
Henry Johnson 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.
Daniel Noble (1838–1903) was a Confederate prisoner at Camp Douglas before becoming 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.
Gunner's Mate Charles J. Bibber was an American sailor who fought in the American Civil War. Bibber received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action during the First Battle of Fort Fisher aboard the USS Agawam on December 23, 1864.
Seaman Dennis Conlan was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Conlan received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action aboard the Agawam during the First Battle of Fort Fisher on 23 December 1864. He was honored with the award on 31 December 1864.
Charles Hawkins was a Seaman in the Union Navy during the American Civil War, where he was awarded the Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor. Hawkins was born in either 1834 or 1835, depending on the source, in Scotland. He lived in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and enlisted in the Union Navy from New Hampshire. He served on board the USS Agawam, as one of a volunteer crew of a powder boat. He was given his Medal of Honor on December 23, 1864, when his boat exploded on that date near Fort Fisher. His boat was towed in by USS Wilderness to prevent detection by the enemy, and less than two hours after boarding the boat, the explosion took place, and the following day fires were observed still burning at the forts. Hawkins was awarded his Medal of Honor on December 31, 1864. He died on February 29, 1908, in Rhode Island. He was buried in Saint Mary Cemetery in West Warwick, Rhode Island.
William Hinnegan was a sailor in the United States Navy during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor.
Charles Rice was a Russian-born fireman, second class of the United States Navy who was awarded the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the American Civil War. On 23 December 1864, Rice was part of a volunteer crew that guided and exploded a powder boat near Fort Fisher in North Carolina. The raid was successful, setting the fort ablaze for at least one day. Rice was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in the raid on 31 December 1864, and was presented with the award on 12 May 1865 aboard the USS Agawam.
James Roberts was a seaman of the United States Navy who was awarded the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the American Civil War. He was born in England in 1837 and lived in Hartford, Connecticut. On 23 December 1864, while serving aboard the USS Agawam, he volunteered to help guide a fire ship towed by the USS Wilderness to the vicinity of the Confederate-held Fort Fisher in North Carolina. The explosion of the fire ship caused significant fires in Fort Fisher for at least one day. Roberts was awarded the Medal of Honor for this action on 31 December 1864.
