MOH: Landsman John Lawson

[Mark F. Jenkins]

From the photostream of the photographic curator of the National Museum of the U.S. Navy:

Landsman John Lawson, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism aboard USS Hartford during the Battle of Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. Collected by William Edward Burqhardt Du Bois, circa 1900. During the Battle of Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864, while serving as a member of the ship's berth deck ammunition party, he was seriously wounded but remained at his post and continued to supply Hartford's guns. For his heroism in this action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor. John Lawson died on 3 May 1919 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is buried at Mount Peace Cemetary, Camden, New Jersey. (7/10/2015).


Medal of Honor citation of Landsman John Lawson (as printed in the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", pages 34-35):

"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 six-man crew at the shell whip 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."​

 

[Private Watkins]

Awesome, thanks for sharing. Question from a landlubber... what is a "Landsman", and how did that role or rank function relative to others...?

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

Basically, "Landsman" was the rating given a sailor who was an adult and had had no previous seafaring experience. (Those who had not attained their majority were given the rating "Boy.") There's some uncertainty, though, when it comes to African-Americans, as for at least a period of time they were restricted to "Boy" or "Landsman" regardless of their actual experience, and even later, if they had advanced to a higher rating, were returned to "Landsman" upon being reassigned to a different ship.

But in theory, an adult (age 18-33; older than 33 usually only by special permission) enlisting in the Navy at the time of the Civil War would join as a Landsman, be advanced to Ordinary Seaman, then Seaman, and possibly to other ratings if he specialized in areas like carpentry, machinery, gunnery, etc.

Not knowing anything in particular about Lawson, I would guess that he was on his first enlistment and was (as was unfortunately typical for African-Americans, especially 'contrabands') assigned to the risky duty of ammunition supply.

ETA: I see he has an article on Wikipedia:

 

[Private Watkins]

Thanks! One other question for anyone who knows... what are the other medals he's wearing...?

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

Most likely veteran's organizations, I'd imagine-- GAR and another, probably.

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

Hm... "Collected by William Edward Burqhardt Du Bois, circa 1900" just caught my eye. I think I've usually seen him referred to as W. E. B. Du Bois, and it's probably the same man as one of the founders of the NAACP.

 

[civilwarincolor]

Thanks! One other question for anyone who knows... what are the other medals he's wearing...?

Most likely veteran's organizations, I'd imagine-- GAR and another, probably.

It really looks like he has 2 MOH's. One looks more like the Army Version (far right) and one more like the Navy (far left) shown here.

 

[Mike Serpa]

I think the medal on the right is the Grand Army of the Republic medal. The one of the left looks like the Medal of Honor but the ribbon seems different.

 

[civilwarincolor]

I think the medal on the right is the Grand Army of the Republic medal. The one of the left looks like the Medal of Honor but the ribbon seems different.
View attachment 73552
View attachment 73553

Yeah, I think you are right (thanks for the enlargement). I found a GAR medal (below) that appears to be the one on the right.

It is odd that the MOH has only three ribbons, where the "official" Navy version is more like the stripes of a flag (and more like the GAR one).

 

[Mike Serpa]

Yeah, I think you are right (thanks for the enlargement). I found a GAR medal (below) that appears to be the one on the right.

It is odd that the MOH has only three ribbons, where the "official" Navy version is more like the stripes of a flag (and more like the GAR one).

The canton of his flag is on the opposite side for some reason.

 

[AndyHall]

Lawson , John
Place of Birth:
Philadelphia , Pennsylvania
Age: 26
Complexion:Mulatto
Occupation:Laborer
Height: 5' 8"
Place of Enlistment: New York
Date of Enlistment: 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

 

[Private Watkins]

Excellent... thank you all. Any thoughts on the middle one, what it was specifically?

 

[AndyHall]

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

The canton of his flag is on the opposite side for some reason.

Might the photo be printed backwards?

ETA: On the other hand, the eagle is looking the correct direction. (?)

Weird about the ribbon on the MOH. I'm not as familiar with medals and their history as I might be... wondering if maybe they gave a slightly different version of it to African-Americans at one time?

ETA: The middle medal appears to have a crossed cannon, pistol, and anchor... guessing that was some sort of Navy veterans organization.

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

Here's an image of a GAR medal I found with the canton the same way:

 

[civilwarincolor]

Might the photo be printed backwards?

ETA: On the other hand, the eagle is looking the correct direction. (?)

The MOH is in the correct position, so not backwards.

 

[Mike Serpa]

Might the photo be printed backwards?

ETA: On the other hand, the eagle is looking the correct direction. (?)

Weird about the ribbon on the MOH. I'm not as familiar with medals and their history as I might be... wondering if maybe they gave a slightly different version of it to African-Americans at one time?

ETA: The middle medal appears to have a crossed cannon, pistol, and anchor... guessing that was some sort of Navy veterans organization.

The jacket buttons are correct so the photo is okay. Don't know what to say about the MOH ribbon.

Here's an image of a GAR medal I found with the canton the same way:

Good find. They must be both directions.

 

[CW Watch & Sword Guy]

Great thread! Thanks for posting.

 

[AndyHall]

The middle medal appears to have a crossed cannon, pistol, and anchor... guessing that was some sort of Navy veterans organization.

I think you can just make out USN in the center of the ribbon.

 

[Private Watkins]

I think you can just make out USN in the center of the ribbon.

Found this... labeled as a "GAR Naval Veteran Legion Service Medal"; don't know if that's correct or not, but if so it doesn't seem that there are very many of them out there...